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Sperm histone modifications may predict success in human assisted reproduction: a pilot study

  • Gamete Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Currently, assisted reproduction clinics employ various sperm selection techniques to identify the best sperm for fertilization. However, these techniques may not assess crucial sperm traits that can substantially impact embryonic quality. To address this, we propose analyzing diverse histone modifications as potential markers of sperm functionality and success in assisted reproduction techniques.

Methods

Cross-sectional pilot study including infertile male patients attending an infertility clinic in CABA, Argentina between April and August 2019 was performed. We used immunofluorescence techniques to evaluate post-translational modifications of histones in sperm and established correlations with in vitro fertilization outcome and embryo quality.

Results

Our findings indicate a negative correlation between H3K4me3 and H3K4me2 marks and fertilization rate and showed a positive correlation of this parameter with H3K9me mark. In addition, there was a positive correlation between H3K27me3 and good embryo quality.

Conclusions

This pilot study proposes a non-invasive strategy to predict embryo quality by analyzing spermatozoa prior to fertilization. The assessment of histone post-translational modifications in sperm samples could provide useful information for the recognition of epigenetic marks that could predict the health of the embryo of an assisted fertilization treatment.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the course of this study are not publicly accessible. However, the corresponding author can provide them upon reasonable request, while maintaining data confidentiality.

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Funding

This research received funding from a generous donation from Fundación Honorio Bigand, Fundación Williams, Fundación Barón and grants from UBACYT (20020100101034) and ANPCYT (2489).

This study was funded by a grant from Fundación Honorio Bigand in Buenos Aires, Argentina. MYC is a doctoral fellow of CONICET, Argentina.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CONICET, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    M. Y. Cambiasso, M. Romanato, L. Gotfryd, L. Calvo, J. C. Calvo & V. A. Fontana

  2. Procrearte, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    G. Rey Valzacchi

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  1. M. Y. Cambiasso
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  2. M. Romanato
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  7. V. A. Fontana
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Contributions

MYC conducted the experiments, analyzed the data, and wrote the paper. MR analyzed the data and edited the paper. LG collaborated with the interpretation of data. GRV oversaw the clinical procedures. LC, JCC and VAF supervised the study and edited the paper. All authors made significant contributions to the drafting and critical revision of the manuscript, and have approved the final version submitted for publication.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to M. Y. Cambiasso or V. A. Fontana.

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The IBYME Ethics Committee approved this study, and the procedures used in this research comply with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Cambiasso, M.Y., Romanato, M., Gotfryd, L. et al. Sperm histone modifications may predict success in human assisted reproduction: a pilot study. J Assist Reprod Genet 41, 3147–3159 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-024-03280-w

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