Genomic Damage in Human Sperm Cells Exposed In Vitro to Environmental Pollutants

Abstract

Forty semen samples were obtained from men aged between 20 and 30 years, referred to our Biology of Reproduction Laboratory at the Department of Life Sciences (Second University of Naples) either for routine semen analysis before in vitro fertilization or for semen analysis screening. The ejaculates were collected by masturbation after a recommended sexual abstinence of 2-3 days. Immediately after liquefaction (about 30 minutes at 37C) sperm parameters were determined according to the WHO guidelines [13] and surplus semen, were used for successive experimental analysis.