{"title":"A causal atlas for sperm DNA fragmentation: separating \"programmed\" breaks from \"acquired\" injury across the male tract.","authors":"Sulagna Dutta, Pallav Sengupta","doi":"10.1007/s10815-026-04046-2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is still treated as a single metric despite converging evidence that it is a composite of mechanistically distinct break classes. We argue for a 'causal atlas' that maps when and where damage is introduced, from spermiogenesis to epididymal transit to ejaculation, and partitions SDF into programmed vulnerability created by faulty chromatin remodeling/topoisomerase-associated events and abortive apoptosis, versus acquired injury from oxidative/enzymatic attack during transit. Although current assays cannot definitively assign SDF to a particular mechanism or anatomical stage, integrating complementary measures may support mechanistically informed patient stratification and guide the development of more targeted interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15246,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-026-04046-2","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is still treated as a single metric despite converging evidence that it is a composite of mechanistically distinct break classes. We argue for a 'causal atlas' that maps when and where damage is introduced, from spermiogenesis to epididymal transit to ejaculation, and partitions SDF into programmed vulnerability created by faulty chromatin remodeling/topoisomerase-associated events and abortive apoptosis, versus acquired injury from oxidative/enzymatic attack during transit. Although current assays cannot definitively assign SDF to a particular mechanism or anatomical stage, integrating complementary measures may support mechanistically informed patient stratification and guide the development of more targeted interventions.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics publishes cellular, molecular, genetic, and epigenetic discoveries advancing our understanding of the biology and underlying mechanisms from gametogenesis to offspring health. Special emphasis is placed on the practice and evolution of assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) with reference to the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting fertility. Our goal is to educate our readership in the translation of basic and clinical discoveries made from human or relevant animal models to the safe and efficacious practice of human ARTs. The scientific rigor and ethical standards embraced by the JARG editorial team ensures a broad international base of expertise guiding the marriage of contemporary clinical research paradigms with basic science discovery. JARG publishes original papers, minireviews, case reports, and opinion pieces often combined into special topic issues that will educate clinicians and scientists with interests in the mechanisms of human development that bear on the treatment of infertility and emerging innovations in human ARTs. The guiding principles of male and female reproductive health impacting pre- and post-conceptional viability and developmental potential are emphasized within the purview of human reproductive health in current and future generations of our species.
The journal is published in cooperation with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, an organization of more than 8,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology.
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