The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA Fragmentation
This study investigated the interrelationships between sperm plasma membrane integrity, motility, and DNA fragmentation (SDF) to provide a more holistic understanding of male fertility. A total of 1159 ejaculates were analyzed for sperm membrane integrity (% dead spermatozoa), motility (% immotile s...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Membranes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/4/109 |
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| Summary: | This study investigated the interrelationships between sperm plasma membrane integrity, motility, and DNA fragmentation (SDF) to provide a more holistic understanding of male fertility. A total of 1159 ejaculates were analyzed for sperm membrane integrity (% dead spermatozoa), motility (% immotile spermatozoa), and SDF (% sperm with fragmented DNA). The statistical methods included non-parametric correlation analysis and artificial intelligence (AI)-generated cluster analysis to identify patterns based on these three parameters. The results showed a moderate correlation (ρ = 0.65; <i>p</i> < 0.000) between sperm membrane integrity and motility, indicating that immotile sperm were more likely to exhibit membrane damage. A weak correlation (ρ = 0.21; <i>p</i> < 0.000) suggested that DNA damage was largely independent of the other sperm parameters. Cluster analysis identified three main clusters: Cluster 0: high levels of low membrane integrity, immotile sperm, and moderate DNA fragmentation. Cluster 1: moderate membrane integrity and motility but extremely high DNA fragmentation. Cluster 2: the lowest levels of membrane damage, immotile sperm, and DNA fragmentation, indicating overall better sperm quality. The clustering techniques demonstrated their ability to integrate multiple sperm parameters, enabling a more individualized fertility diagnosis and potentially enhancing male infertility assessments. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-0375 |