Sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA ®) and flow cytometry-assisted TUNEL assay provide a concordant assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation as a function of age in a large cohort of approximately 10,000 patients

ConclusionsIn the large cohort analyzed, SDF is an age-dependent parameter, increasing linearly with aging. The SCSA ® assessment of SDF and the flow cytometry-assisted TUNEL assessment are well correlated, although TUNEL is less sensitive than SCSA®. This difference in sensitivity should be taken into account in the final assessment of the true level of fragmentation of the sperm nucleus of a given sample. The classical sperm parameters (motility, morphology, sperm count) do not change dramatically with age, making them inadequate to assess the fertility potential of an individual.
Source: Basic and Clinical Andrology - Category: Urology & Nephrology Source Type: research