MALE INFERTILITY 1841
Re: Oxidative DNA Damage in Human Sperm Can Be Detected by
Raman Microspectroscopy
V. Sánchez, K. Redmann, J. Wistuba, F. Wübbeling, M. Burger, H. Oldenhof,
W. F. Wolkers, S. Kliesch, S. Schlatt and C. Mallidis
Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Clinics Muenster, Muenster, Germany
Fertil Steril 2012; 98: 1124-9.e1–1124-9.e3.
Objective: To determine whether Raman microspectroscopy can identify different levels of oxidative sperm
nDNA damage and to corroborate the findings using an established method and an alternative but
complementary spectroscopic technique. Design: Three-way comparison of Raman profiles, Fourier trans-
form infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, and flow-cytometric assessments of sperm nDNA damage.
Setting: University-based research laboratory. Patient(s): Thirty-eight men attending the infertility clinic
at the Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology. Intervention(s): Induction of oxidative damage by
Fenton’s reaction on semen samples. Main Outcome Measure(s): Raman profiles, FTIR spectra, and
flow-cytometric analysis of DNA fragmentation. Result(s): Raman and FTIR spectra contained distinctive
differences between untreated and fragmented nDNA sperm that were indicative of oxidative attack. The
changes in Raman profiles were similar to those previously seen and corresponded to the DNA backbone.
The peak attributions were corroborated by the FTIR spectra. Principal component analysis of the entire
Raman spectra distinguished samples with varying degrees of damage. After determination of a cutoff
value (0.63), estimation of the percentage of sperm with nDNA damage using the intensity ratio of Raman
peaks (1,050/1,095 cm(⫺1)) correlated linearly to the flow-cytometric assessment. Conclusion(s): Raman
microspectroscopy still requires further validation but may potentially provide a means of assessing the
nDNA status of a living sperm.
Editorial Comment: In pursuit of a harmless method of selecting the best sperm for intra-
cytoplasmic sperm injection these authors demonstrate how Raman microspectroscopy
can be used to gauge DNA fragmentation. This is exciting work that may help us to
understand the true value of DNA fragmentation as a predictive tool and ultimately assist
the technician in choosing which sperm to inject.
Craig Niederberger, M.D.
Re: The Association Between Sperm Sex Chromosome Disomy and Semen
Concentration, Motility and Morphology
M. E. McAuliffe, P. L. Williams, S. A. Korrick, R. Dadd and M. J. Perry
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
Hum Reprod 2012; 27: 2918 –2926.
Study Question: Is there an association between sex chromosome disomy and semen concentration,
motility and morphology? Summary Answer: Higher rates of XY disomy were associated with a
significant increase in abnormal semen parameters, particularly low semen concentration. What is
Known Already: Although some prior studies have shown associations between sperm chromosomal
abnormalities and reduced semen quality, results of others are inconsistent. Definitive findings have
been limited by small sample sizes and lack of adjustment for potential confounders. Study Design,
Size and Duration: Cross-sectional study of men from subfertile couples presenting at the Massachu-
setts General Hospital Fertility Clinic from January 2000 to May 2003. Participants/Materials,
Setting, Methods: With a sample of 192 men, multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization for
chromosomes X, Y and 18 was used to determine XX, YY, XY and total sex chromosome disomy in
sperm nuclei. Sperm concentration and motility were measured using computer-assisted sperm
analysis; morphology was scored using strict criteria. Logistic regression models were used to
evaluate the odds of abnormal semen parameters [as defined by World Health Organization (WHO)]
as a function of sperm sex chromosome disomy. Main Results and the Role of Chance: The median
percentage disomy was 0.3 for XX and YY, 0.9 for XY and 1.6 for total sex chromosome disomy. Men
who had abnormalities in all three semen parameters had significantly higher median rates of XX, XY
