Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Roles Of Nad+ In Testicular Aging And Epigenetic Sperm Modifications, Renata Hoskova

Student Research Symposium

Since 1980, the average age of first-time fathers has been increasing. With increased age, sperm chromatin quality and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels are reduced. In order to condense around protamines, sperm DNA undergoes breaks, at which time epigenetic reprogramming occurs. In humans, about 2% of DNA stays wound to histones in spermatozoa. Histones carry post-translational modifications that control gene activity and have the potential to transmit epigenetic information to the offspring. Analysis of epigenetic sperm modifications is being conducted within niacin deficient versus niacin replete mice. The experimental plan includes the characterization of histone exchange in elongating spermatids via …