[Progress on the detection techniques for DNA integrity of sperm].

Oxidative stress, deficiencies in natural processes such as chromatin packaging and abortive apoptosis are the main factors that lead to sperm DNA damage. The DNA integrity of sperm is essential for fertilization, as well as for the normal development of the blastocyst, embryo and child. There is increasing evidence that sperm DNA anomalies may lead to infertility, abortion, stillbirth, fathead and chromosomal diseases. The routine examination of semen can not identify subtle defects in sperm DNA, so several detection techniques have been developed for estimating the DNA (nuclear DNA/mitochondria DNA) integrity of sperm, which is considered to be a better marker of male fertility potential than conventional semen parameters. This review attempts at a detailed description of these detection techniques, including their principles, methods, steps and clinical application.