| HRA000966
(Controlled Access)
|
It is widely accepted that sperm DNA integrity is imperative for successful fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy. High percentage of DNA damaged sperm cells was found in infertile men and negatively affects paternal reproductive capacity. There is a clear association between high level of sperm DNA damage in male and high risk of mutational load or morbidity in the offspring especially in aged or smoking men. As a manifest of sperm DNA damage, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has attracted considerable interest in male infertility research and clinical andrology. SDF is a complicated disorder with diverse associations with genetic, medical, environmental and lifestyle factors that dynamically alter the disorder. DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic mechanism and emerging as promising frontier in comprehending the epigenetic nature of human sperm. |
