ArticlePloS one2007
Widespread epigenetic abnormalities suggest a broad DNA methylation erasure defect in abnormal human sperm.
Article in PloS one, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02605070 (Pilot Study on the Effects of FSH Treatment on the Epigenetic Characteristics of Spermatozoa in Infertile Patients With Severe Oligozoospermia), which is not on this map. Cited by 102 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Pilot Study on the Effects of FSH Treatment on the Epigenetic Characteristics of Spermatozoa in Infertile Patients With Severe Oligozoospermia
Who cites it
102 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Comprehensive meta-analysis reveals association between multiple imprinting disorders and conception by assisted reproductive technology.Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics · 2018Pooled it
- Stability of the human sperm DNA methylome to folic acid fortification and short-term supplementation.Human reproduction (Oxford, England) · 2017Trial
- Different Levels of DNA Methylation Detected in Human Sperms after Morphological Selection Using High Magnification Microscopy.BioMed research international · 2016Trial
- Stratified profiling of azoospermia: Differentiating histological subtypes with seminal plasma metabolic signatures.Journal of biomedical research · 2026Article
- Redox-Genomic Crosstalk: Linking Oxidative Stress, Sperm DNA Fragmentation, and Epigenetics in Personalized Management of Male Infertility.Journal of personalized medicine · 2026Review
- ALKB-1-dependent tRNA methylation is required for efficient paternal mitochondrial elimination.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Oligozoospermic infertile sperm with high ROS are more prone to epigenetic alterations.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Article
- The Study ofInternational journal of fertility & sterility · 2025Article
- Methylation Status of cAMP-responsive Element Modulator (CREM) Gene in Infertile Men and Its Association with Sperm Parameters.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2024Article
- Sperm epigenetics and male infertility: unraveling the molecular puzzle.Human genomics · 2024Review
- Genomic aspects in reproductive medicine.Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine · 2024Article
- Etiology of Male Infertility: an Update.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2024Review
- Article
- Coordinated alternation of DNA methylation and alternative splicing of PBRM1 affect bovine sperm structure and motility.Epigenetics · 2023Article
- Article
- High-content analysis of testicular toxicity of BPA and its selected analogs in mouse spermatogonial, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells revealed BPAF induced unique multinucleation phenotype associated with the increased DNA synthesis.Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA · 2023Article
- Unlocking the mystery associated with infertility and prostate cancer: an update.Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) · 2023Review
- Comparative Epigenetic Analysis of Imprinting Genes Involved in Fertility, in Cryopreserved Human Sperms with Rapid Freezing versus Vitrification Methods.Cell journal · 2023Article
- Does advanced paternal age affect global DNA methylation of human spermatozoa and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome?Journal of the Turkish German Gynecological Association · 2023Article
- Impact of Advanced Paternal Age on Fertility and Risks of Genetic Disorders in Offspring.Genes · 2023Review
42 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMale-factor infertility is a common condition, and etiology is unknown for a high proportion of cases. Abnormal epigenetic programming of the germline is proposed as a possible mechanism compromising spermatogenesis of some men currently diagnosed with idiopathic infertility. During germ cell maturation and gametogenesis, cells of the germ line undergo extensive epigenetic reprogramming. This process involves widespread erasure of somatic-like patterns of DNA methylation followed by establishment of sex-specific patterns by de novo DNA methylation. Incomplete reprogramming of the male germ line could, in theory, result in both altered sperm DNA methylation and compromised spermatogenesis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING: We determined concentration, motility and morphology of sperm in semen samples collected by male members of couples attending an infertility clinic. Using MethyLight and Illumina assays we measured methylation of DNA isolated from purified sperm from the same samples. Methylation at numerous sequences was elevated in DNA from poor quality sperm.
conclusionsThis is the first report of a broad epigenetic defect associated with abnormal semen parameters. Our results suggest that the underlying mechanism for these epigenetic changes may be improper erasure of DNA methylation during epigenetic reprogramming of the male germ line.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.