Epigenetic heterogeneity of developmentally important genes in human sperm: implications for assisted reproduction outcome.

ABSTRACT: The molecular basis of male infertility is poorly understood, the majority of cases remaining unsolved. The association of aberrant sperm DNA methylation patterns and compromised semen parameters suggests that disturbances in male germline epigenetic reprogramming contribute to this problem. So far there are only few data on the epigenetic heterogeneity of sperm within a given sample and how to select the best sperm for successful infertility treatment. Limiting dilution bisulfite sequencing of small pools of sperm from fertile donors did not reveal significant differences in the occurrence of abnormal methylation imprints between sperm with and without morphological abnormalities. Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection was not associated with an improved epigenetic qual

SUBMITTER: Kuhtz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4622742 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature