@article {723, title = {Germ cell abnormalities in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice do not correlate with blood glucose level.}, journal = {J Assist Reprod Genet}, volume = {29}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Dec}, pages = {1405-13}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of streptozotocin induced hyperglycemia on germ cell integrity, DNA ploidy and methylation status for a period of two spermatogenesis cycles in adult male Swiss albino mice.

METHODS: Streptozotocin injected mice were monitored for hyperglycemia at a regular interval for a period of 36 and 72\ days. The DNA integrity in epididymal spermatozoa was determined by the comet assay. Flow cytometric analysis was done in germ cells to assess the DNA ploidy. The global methylation analysis in germ cells was done by 5-methyl cytosine immunostaining.

RESULTS: Streptozotocin administration successfully resulted in hyperglycemic response which significantly affected serum testosterone level, sperm DNA integrity and DNA ploidy at the end of 36\ days. However, no changes were observed in either epididymal sperm concentration or germ cell methylation status. In contrast, at the end of 76\ days, although serum testosterone level, sperm DNA integrity and DNA ploidy status were unperturbed significantly in hyperglycemic group, the epididymal sperm concentration and methylation status of preleptotene/zygotene cells were significantly altered. Importantly, an attempt to find out the association between the blood glucose levels and the abnormalities in hyperglycemic group failed to demonstrate any correlation.

CONCLUSIONS: The germ cell abnormalities observed in hyperglycemic group could be interpreted as a primary effect of streptozotocin and not due to hyperglycemia. Our results call for further evaluation of streptozotocin before its application to study the hyperglycemic responses on male germ cells.

}, keywords = {Animals, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental, DNA Methylation, Epididymis, Germ Cells, Humans, Hyperglycemia, Male, Mice, Ploidies, Sperm Count, Spermatogenesis, Spermatozoa, Streptozocin, Testosterone}, issn = {1573-7330}, doi = {10.1007/s10815-012-9873-0}, author = {Bose, Rohini and Adiga, Satish K and D{\textquoteright}Souza, Fiona and Salian, Sujith R and Uppangala, Shubhashree and Kalthur, Guruprasad and Jain, Navya and Radhakrishnan, Raghu A and Bhat, Nalini and Krishnamurthy, Hanumantappa and Kumar, Pratap} } @article {722, title = {Poor sperm quality and advancing age are associated with increased sperm DNA damage in infertile men.}, journal = {Andrologia}, volume = {44 Suppl 1}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 May}, pages = {642-9}, abstract = {

With increasing evidence for faulty paternal contribution to reproduction, there has been a steady increase in studies highlighting an association between sperm DNA damage, failed/delayed fertilisation and aberrant embryo development. Owing to prevailing ambiguity, the aims of the study were to analyse the genetic integrity of the male gamete and then to understand its association with age, standard semen parameters, lifestyle and occupational factors. The study included 504 subjects, attending university infertility clinic for fertility evaluation and treatment. Semen characteristics were analysed by standard criteria; terminal deoxynucelotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labelling assay was employed for DNA damage assessment. The average incidence of sperm DNA damage in patients with normozoospermic semen parameters was \<10\%. Patients with oligozoospermia, severe oligozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and necrozoospermia had significantly higher level of sperm DNA damage (P \< 0.001). Patients above 40 years of age had significantly high levels of DNA damage (P \< 0.001) compared with their counterparts. Patients with varicocele and a history of alcohol consumption had higher incidence of spermatozoa with DNA damage (P \< 0.01). Poor sperm characteristics in the ejaculate are associated with increased sperm DNA damage. Age-related increase in sperm DNA damage and association of the same with varicocele and alcohol consumption are also demonstrated.

}, keywords = {Aging, DNA Damage, Humans, Infertility, Male, Life Style, Male, Occupations, Spermatozoa}, issn = {1439-0272}, doi = {10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01243.x}, author = {Varshini, J and Srinag, B S and Kalthur, G and Krishnamurthy, H and Kumar, P and Rao, S B-S and Adiga, S K} }