The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (18): 3348-3355.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.18.013

• Treatise:Mechanism and Practice • Previous Articles    

Analysis of semen parameters and sperm DNA damage in microacrosome area asthenospermia

Tao Pang, Yuqian Tang, Lu Han, Shenghui Zhu, Yuehua Li, Wenzhong Zhao()   

  1. NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics,Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute(Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital)
  • Received:2026-03-02 Revised:2026-07-14 Accepted:2026-07-23 Online:2026-09-25 Published:2026-10-19
  • Contact: Wenzhong Zhao
  • About author:

    Pang Tao performed the experiments and wrote the article. Tang Yuqian, Zhu Shenghui and Li Yuehua performed the experiments. Han Lu revised the article. Zhao Wenzhong designed the study and reviewed the article. All authors read and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Abstract:

Objective To define the "small acrosomal area sperm phenotype" using the acrosomal area ratio as an indicator, to compare differences in routine semen parameters and sperm functional indices, and to analyze the correlations between this phenotype and the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and other relevant parameters. Methods (1)Semen samples were collected from the male outpatient clinic between June 2023 and June 2025. Using a 30% cut-off for the percentage of small acrosomal area sperm out of the total sperm evaluated(R)sperm morphology analysis was performed on 75 samples in the small acrosomal area group (R > 30%) and 75 normal samples (R ≤ 30%). (2)Semen quality parameters, sperm survival rate, and sperm penetration capacity through cervical mucus were assessed simultaneously in all 150 samples. SPAT scores, DFI, and other functional tests were performed, and conventional transmission electron microscopy was used for ultrastructural observation, followed by correlation analysis. (3)Samples were divided into the small acrosomal area phenotype group and the control group according to the predefined threshold. Between-group comparisons were conducted using Student's t-test or the Mann⁃Whitney U test, as appropriate; Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between R and each parameter. Results Compared with the control group, the small acrosomal area phenotype group exhibited significantly lower progressive motility (PR), viability, and SPAT scores, while DFI was significantly elevated. No statistically significant difference was observed in sperm concentration between the two groups. R was significantly negatively correlated with PR, normal morphology rate, viability, and SPAT score, and significantly positively correlated with DFI. Conclusion The proportion of the small acrosomal area phenotype is significantly correlated with sperm motility, membrane integrity, penetration capacity, and DNA integrity, suggesting that it may serve as a supplementary quantitative indicator to conventional morphological reporting for male fertility evaluation and risk stratification.

Key words: acrosomal region, male infertility, sperm DNA fragmentation index, sperm morphology

CLC Number: