Effect of the Heavy Cigarette Smoking on Sperm Chromatin, DNA Fragmentation and Methylation in Young Saudi Men

ABSTRACT Cigarette smoking is a lifestyle pattern. It is a major global health problem responsible for the decline in semen quality and an overall decline in male reproductive health. The main objective of the current study was therefore to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on sperm quality in young Saudi men living in the Western region of Saudi Arabia (Makkah). In this study, semen samples were collected from 100 men each (mild, moderate and heavy cigarette smokers) aged between 18 and 36 years with a mean age of 24.38 ± 9.58 years. All samples were collected by masturbation with the abstinence interval of sex or ejaculate of at least 72 hours, along with 100 aged matched healthy nonsmokers who served as controls. The percentage of abnormal sperm chromatin non-condensation, DNA fragmentation, and DNA methylation was found to be significantly higher in heavy smokers compared to mild / moderate / nonsmokers (p <.0005). These results indicate that heavy cigarette smoking negatively affects the conventional semen parameters including sperm chromatin condensation and sperm viability. We hypothesized that heavy cigarette smoking seems to be associated with sub-fertility in these males by reducing sperm quality in a dose-dependent manner. Keywords: Cigarette smoking, Sperm chromatin, DNA fragmentation and methylation, young Saudi men.