Sperm DNA Damage
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Origins and biological significance of DNA methylation and DNA damage in human sperm
IRAS ID
155745
Contact name
Daniel Brison
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Central Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
The genetic material (DNA) carried by human sperm might be altered (or damaged) as a result of various processes and exposures. Whether this damage affected the fertility of a man or the normal behaviour of sperm or the outcome of a pregnancy was currently unknown. In this study, the study team would interview men attending St Mary’s Hospital with their partners for infertility treatment. They would also collect semen samples (ethical approval already obtained). Men would be asked about their job, their diet and other factors that might affect their DNA. The study team would then examine whether any of these factors might affect the levels of DNA damage in their semen and hence might affect male fertility.
Lay summary of study results: This project captured lifestyle factors reported by men undergoing assisted conception treatment at St Mary’s Hospital Manchester and studied associations between these factors and outcomes of treatment, and molecular markers of sperm quality. The study produced 3 published scientific papers and 2 PhD theses.
The broad conclusions were that some of the molecular markers of sperm quality, such as sperm DNA telomere length, alkylation levels, and strand breaks, were associated with treatment results such as fertilisation of egg by sperm. In general we saw little evidence of an association between lifestyle factors reported by men and treatment outcomes. Some of the less common occupational exposures e.g. to dry cleaning fluids were associated with treatment outcomes, but as these were rare it is not possible to establish a causal link. These results should be reassuring to patients, in that we did not identify any high risk lifestyle or occupational factors. This may be due to the fact that couples undergoing assisted conception treatment are highly motivated to avoid such factors, e.g. we do not accept smokers for treatment.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
14/NS/0082
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion