Effect of Incubation Time and Vitamin E Supplementation on Sperm Motility, Viability and DNA Fragmentation in Asthenoteratozoospermic Samples

Abstract

Abstract Background: In Asthenoteratozoospermic‎ men, low motility, defected DNA and highly oxidative stress in ‎sperm ‎‎cause ‎poor‎ assisted reproductive techniques (ART) outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Vitamin E (Vit E), as a potent antioxidant, on sperm motility, viability and DNA integrity at different times of in vitro incubation (after 2, 4 and 6-h) to improve asthenoteratozoospermic semen samples for ART. Materials and Methods: Asthenoteratozoospermic semen samples of 50 volunteers were collected and examined. Each sample was divided into two groups of control and vitamin E (2mM) and kept in the 37 °C and 6 % CO2 for 2, 4 and 6 hours. After this incubation, sperm motility, viability and sperm DNA fragmentation (SCD) were evaluated in each group. Data were analyzed using repeated measurement of ANOVA and T-test. The means were considered significantly different at p<0.05. Results:Significant decrease in total and progressive motility and viability as well as significant increase in sperm DNA damage (after 6h of incubation) were found in control group vs. the control group before incubation (p<0.05). The sperm motility and viability was significantly higher in vitamin E group compared to untreated control group (p<0.05). Our results also showed that DNA fragmentation significantly was lower after 6h of vitamin E treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: In vitro supplementation of vitamin E in asthenoteratozoospermia semen samples may protect spermatozoa from maltreatment effect of ROS during sperm sampling via keeping enzymatic and antioxidant process in optimum condition.

Keywords

• Asthenoteratozoospermia
• DNA Fragmentation
• Oxidative stress
• Spermatozoa
• Vitamin E.