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: Alfredo Góngora, Stephen Johnston, Pablo Contreras, Carmen López-Fernández, Jaime Gosálvez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Membranes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/4/109
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author Alfredo Góngora
Stephen Johnston
Pablo Contreras
Carmen López-Fernández
Jaime Gosálvez
author_facet Alfredo Góngora
Stephen Johnston
Pablo Contreras
Carmen López-Fernández
Jaime Gosálvez
author_sort Alfredo Góngora
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj-art-0bcb3ac113774023b07c0dcea00cde932025-08-20T02:28:37ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752025-04-0115410910.3390/membranes15040109The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA FragmentationAlfredo Góngora0Stephen Johnston1Pablo Contreras2Carmen López-Fernández3Jaime Gosálvez4Centro de Fertilidad Humana en Mexico DF, Ciudad de México 06760, MexicoSchool of Environment, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, AustraliaHalotech DNA, Parque Cientifico de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, SpainHalotech DNA, Parque Cientifico de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, SpainThis 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/4/109sperm plasma membrane integritysperm motilitysperm DNA fragmentationcluster analysisintegrated sperm quality
spellingShingle Alfredo Góngora
Stephen Johnston
Pablo Contreras
Carmen López-Fernández
Jaime Gosálvez
The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA Fragmentation
Membranes
sperm plasma membrane integrity
sperm motility
sperm DNA fragmentation
cluster analysis
integrated sperm quality
title The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA Fragmentation
title_full The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA Fragmentation
title_fullStr The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA Fragmentation
title_full_unstemmed The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA Fragmentation
title_short The Nexus Between Sperm Membrane Integrity, Sperm Motility, and DNA Fragmentation
title_sort nexus between sperm membrane integrity sperm motility and dna fragmentation
topic sperm plasma membrane integrity
sperm motility
sperm DNA fragmentation
cluster analysis
integrated sperm quality
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/4/109
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