Sperm DNA fragmentation, semen oxidative stress and sperm chromatin condensation: study for advancing the pathway from the benchtop to the clinic practice

Couple infertility is defined as the inability to achieve conception after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. It affects 15% of couples and male factors account for nearly half of these cases. However, in around 40% of men with abnormal semen parameters, the cause remains elusive. Moreover, 15-40% of men may be infertile despite apparently normal semen profiles, medical histories, and physical exams. Routine semen analysis is crucial in evaluating male fertility, but due to its limitations, it is necessary the exploration of novel diagnostic markers to better predict male infertility. In recent years, sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF), oxidative stress, and chromatin condensation have emerged as potential biomarkers for infertile men, promising for clinical implementation. This PhD project investigated some aspects of these three markers in view of a possible use in the diagnostic practice. Unless otherwise indicated, semen samples were collected from men undergoing routine semen analysis at the Semen Cryopreservation and Andrology Laboratory of Careggi University in Florence (Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi in Florence)