Abnormal sperm tails correlate with the sperm DNA fragmentation index, irrespective of progressive motility, according to an analysis of 5125 semen reports.

Yanjing Wang, Hongping Li, Minhao Hu, Xiaozhen Liu, Lejun Li

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Article in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 authors.

Yanjing WangDepartment of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women'S Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.

Hongping LiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People'S Hospital, Westlake University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Minhao HuDepartment of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women'S Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.

Xiaozhen LiuDepartment of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women'S Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.

Lejun LiDepartment of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women'S Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China. lilejun@zju.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8647-1035

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82171596National Natural Science Foundation of China 82471638

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeSperm progressive motility (PR) is correlated with the sperm DNA fragmentation index (SDF). Moreover, abnormalities in sperm tails are closely associated with the quality of sperm PR. However, the correlation of abnormal sperm tails with the SDF remains unknown.

methodsRoutine semen examination was performed according to the World Health Organization guidelines with a computer-assisted semen analysis system. SDF analysis was conducted via the sperm chromatin structure assay method. Spearman correlation was used to test the correlation of the SDF with age and conventional semen parameters. The relationship between the SDF and abnormal tails was explored by binary logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses and subgroup analysis. ROC curves were used to assess the predictive capacity of age, abnormal tails and PR for the SDF.

resultsThe SDF was associated with sperm morphology, with a significant correlation observed with abnormal sperm tails (r = 0.491, P < 0.001). Binary regression analysis revealed that abnormal sperm tails were an independent influencing factor of the SDF. RCS analyses and Trend analysis suggested that as the number of abnormal sperm tails increased, the risk of an abnormal SDF also increased, and the trend was statistically significant (P for trend < 0.001). The ROC curve demonstrated that abnormal sperm tails had good discriminatory ability for the SDF (AUC: 0.757, P < 0.001).

conclusionAbnormal sperm tails are an independent influencing factor of the SDF, and a higher number of abnormal tails is associated with an increased risk of an abnormal SDF.

Indexed as

DNA FragmentationInfertility, MaleSpermatozoaSperm MotilityAdultChromatinHumansMaleROC CurveSemenSemen AnalysisChromatinAbnormal sperm tailsSperm DNA fragmentation indexSperm morphology

Identifiers

PMID40131680

DOI10.1007/s10815-025-03452-2

PMCPMC12055721

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