TUNEL assay and SCSA determine different aspects of sperm DNA damage
Date
2010
Authors
Henkel R.
Hoogendijk C.F.
Bouic P.J.D.
Kruger T.F.
Journal Title
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Abstract
Summary For the determination of sperm DNA damage, different assays are used. However, no further distinction is made and the literature generally speaks about DNA damage. Thus, this study aimed at comparing the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and the TUNEL assay. In 79 patients, sperm DNA damage was determined flow cytometrically using the SCSA and the TUNEL assay. Moreover, normal sperm morphology was evaluated according to strict criteria. A statistical comparison of the two methods was performed using standard correlations, Bland and Altman plots, Passing-Bablok regressions and concordance correlation. Results show a significant difference between P- and G-pattern morphology only for the mean channel fluorescence of the SCSA. Spearman's rank correlations between the different parameters of both assays, SCSA and TUNEL, revealed significant associations between the parameters of the assays. However, when applying Bland and Altman plots, Passing-Bablok regression and concordance correlation results showed that these methods are not comparable. These different techniques determine different aspects of sperm DNA damage, i.e. 'real' DNA damage for the TUNEL assay and 'potential' DNA damage in terms of susceptibility to DNA denaturation for the SCSA. Thus, one should clearly distinguish between the different assays, not only practically and methodologically but also linguistically. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Description
Keywords
adult, article, chromatin structure, controlled study, DNA damage, DNA denaturation, flow cytometry, human, intermethod comparison, major clinical study, male, morphology, nick end labeling, sperm, Adult, Chromatin, DNA Damage, DNA Fragmentation, Flow Cytometry, Humans, In Situ Nick-End Labeling, Male, Sperm Count, Sperm Motility, Spermatozoa
Citation
Andrologia
42
5
42
5