Correlation analysis between sperm progressive motility and sperm DNA fragments,reactive oxygen species and mitochondri-al membrane potential levels in patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia
Objective To investigate the relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI),high reactive oxygen species(ROS)rate,high mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)rate,and progressive motility(PR)in patients with idiopathic astheno-zoospermia.Methods A total of 250 patients who visited the Male Department of Reproductive Medicine Center,Tangdu Hospital,from December 2022 to November 2023 were enrolled in this study.The patients were divided into mild(20%≤PR<32%,n=86),moderate(10%≤PR<20%,n=67),and severe(PR<10%,n=47)asthenozoospermia groups,and a normal group(female factor infertility,normal semen parameters,PR≥32%,n=50)was formed based on their PR values.The levels of sperm DFI,high ROS and MMP rates were measured using flow cytometry,and their correlations with PR were analyzed.Results Compared with the normal group,the asthenozoospermia groups showed significantly lower sperm concentration,motility,normal morphology percentage and high MMP rate(P<0.05),but significantly high DFI and ROS rate(P<0.01).The severe asthenozoospermia group had significantly high DFI and ROS rate and high MMP rate was lower than that in the mild and moderate groups(P<0.0I).No significant differences in DFI,high ROS rate and MMP rates were found between the mild and moderate groups(P>0.05).As the severity of asthenozoospermia increased,DFI and high ROS rate showed an increasing trend,while high MMP rate decreased.Correlation analysis revealed a signifi-cant positive correlation between PR and high MMP rate(r=0.439,P<0.01)and significant negative correlations between PR and high ROS rate(r=-0.435,P<0.01),DFI(r=-0.478,P<0.01).Conclusion The patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia ex-hibit altered levels of sperm DFI,high ROS and MMP rates,which are associated with the severity of asthenozoospermia.Elevated ROS levels may lead to sperm DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction,resulting in decreased sperm progressive motility.