Role of the sperm-hyaluronic acid binding score (HBA-score) in andrological and fertility assessment: HBA-score values, sperm concentrations and total motile sperm content in semen of 768 men

WITHDRAWN P-1005 Thursday, October 17, 2013 VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) POLYMORPHISM GENOTYPE POSSIBILITIES AND THE ETIOPATHOGENIC FACTORS OF DNADAMAGE IN SPERM. C. G. Petersen, L. D. Vagnini, A. L. Mauri, J. B. A. Oliveira, R. L. R. Baruffi, J. G. Franco, Jr. Center for Human Reproduction Prof. Franco Jr, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Paulista Center for Diagnosis Research and Training, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School -Sao Paulo State University UNESP, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether there are correlations between the VEGF -1154 guanine (G)/adenine (A) polymorphism and etiopathogenic factors of DNA damage in sperm. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 177 men were included. The DNAwas extracted from peripheral blood, and the VEGF gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) -1154G/Awere genotyped using real-time PCR with Taqman Universal PCR Master Mix and Taqman SNP genotyping assays. At least 200 spermatozoa were examined in each semen sample (one per subject) and the following spermatozoa percentages were determined: DNA fragmentation (with TUNEL assay), abnormal chromatin packaging/ underprotamination (using chromomycin A3/CMA3), apoptosis (using annexin-V) and mitochondrial damage (using MitoTracker Green and JC1). All data were evaluated using c2 tests. RESULTS: VEGF genotypes with A alleles were associated with high percentages of apoptotic spermatozoa. There was no observed association beS438 ASRM Abstracts tween VEGF genotypes or alleles and DNA fragmentation, protamination or mitochondrial damage in sperm (Table 1).