Dependencies Between Some Sperm Quality Parameters and the DNA Integrity in the Spermatozoa Nuclei in Accordance with Environmental and Lifestyle Factors

In order to establish DNA integrity in the sperm nuclei, acridine orange fluorescence test was performed in 87 males from Bulgaria in four age groups: up to 20 years; from 21 to 30 years; from 31 to 40 years and over 40 years. The results obtained were based on a four-step scale, depending on the percentage of damaged cells. At the same time, basic sperm counts, such as sperm concentration and motility, and sperm morphology, were analyzed by conventional sperm analysis. The individuals surveyed were also analyzed on the basis of reported harmfulness related to their lifestyle – environment and professional harms, use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, anabolic steroids and medications. Statistically significant dependencies were found between the individual sperm counts and adverse environmental conditions, as well as between the presence of a high percentage of fragmented DNA in sperm nuclei and decreased sperm concentration and motility, and abnormal sperm morphology. Additional studies are needed to gain insight into the interdependencies between environmental and lifestyle factors and genetic factors that determine the reproductive health of men in Bulgaria.