ABSTRACT:BACKGROUND:Numerous studies have shown the presence of DNA strand breaks in human ejaculated spermatozoa. The nature of this nuclear anomaly and its relationship to patient etiology is however poorly understood.OBJECTIVE:This study was done to investigate the relationship between nuclear DNA damage, assessed using the TUNEL assay and a number of biochemical parameters including zinc level, copper level, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) level as an indicator of the lipid peroxidation and also the standard general seminal fluid examination.MATERIAL AND METHODS:In this study 100 seminal samples were tested. Seventy five infertile patients aged (30.33±5.96) and 25 normal people aged (29.84±6.434) were included as a control. All tests were done to all the samples except the DNA fragmentation which was done to 60 samples only (45 patients and 15 normal).RESULTS:A positive relationship between DNA damage level and infertility was found. Also there were higher levels of MDA level and DNA damage in spermatozoa of infertile patients (P=0.001). We found also absence of difference in the copper level between the two groups. Regarding seminal zinc level we found that there was a low zinc level in infertile patients (P=0.001). Non-significant correlations between zinc level and the percentage of DNA fragmentation and the MDA levels were obtained.CONCLUSION:This study suggested that sperm DNA analysis might be better discriminator between infertile and fertile men than standard semen analysis also oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage contributed to sperms dysfunction. The infertile samples associated with high levels of oxidative stress and low seminal zinc levels.

sperm DNA fragmentation --- oxidative stress --- seminal zinc level