Table 5 Correlation between the transcription level of protamines and semen parameters

Sperm concentration (Mill/ml)

− 0.139

0.057

− 0.215

0.003

Total sperm motility (%)

− 0.290

< 0.001

− 0.289

< 0.001

Sperm progressive motility (%)

− 0.425

< 0.001

− 0.459

< 0.001

Sperm non-progressive motility (%)

0.175

< 0.016

0.245

< 0.001

Non-motile sperm (%)

0.290

< 0.001

0.289

< 0.001

Sperm normal form (%)

− 0.464

< 0.001

− 0.502

< 0.001

Sperm abnormal form (%)

0.464

< 0.001

0.502

< 0.001

Sperm chromatin non-condensation (CMA3-positive)

0.195

0.007

0.261

< 0.001

Sperm DNA fragmentation (TUNEL-positive)

0.153

0.037

0.311

< 0.001

Global DNA methylation level (ng/μl)

0.216

0.003

0.494

< 0.001