Phone: (605) 688-5474
Fax: (605) 692-9703
E mail Dr. Donald Evenson

Education
• BA, 1964, Biology/ Chemistry, Augustana College (SD)
• PhD, 1968, Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder
• Postdoc, Florida State University, 1970

Honors and Recognitions
• Distinguished Professor
• Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award Recipient, 2001
• Excellence in Research
•  Board of Regents, 1997
•  Sigma Xi, 1995
•  F.O. Butler Foundation, 1988
• Distinguished Professor, 1996
• Keynote speaker at national and international scientific meetings

 External Sponsorship
Past Funding: - Over $2 million from NIH, EPA, USDA, NSF
Current Funding:
• $100,000 - USDA R01 Grant
• $283,000 - EPA R01 Grant
• $125,000 - NIH Ro1 Grant
• $80,000 - State of SD Agricultural Grant

Graduate Students
Denise Brake
David Tritle

Professional and/or Research Contributions
2001 Chair, Research Standards study Group, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, SDSU
2000 Faculty Research Committee Member, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, SDSU President and Past President, Sigma Xi (SDSU chapter) Ethyl Austin Martin Program for Nutrition Committee, SDSU Biotechnology Publications Group: College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences
1999 Future Faculty Committee, Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, SDSU President, Sigma Xi (local chapter) Ethyl Austin Martin Nutrition Committee, SDSU
1996 Executive Committee, Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry, South Dakota State University

Our research interests over the past two decades have focussed on the integrity of mammalian sperm DNA as related to fertility potential and environmental toxicology. Our laboratory has developed the internationally recognized Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). Animal or human sperm are subjected to a low pH solution to potentially denature nuclear DNA in situ. DNA in sperm with normal, undamaged chromatin (DNA + protein) does not denature under these conditions while sperm with damaged DNA do demonstrate DNA denaturation.

The extent of DNA denaturation is measured by staining the sperm sample with the metachromatic DNA dye, acridine orange (AO). AO intercalates into native, undenatured DNA and fluoresces green upon excitation with blue laser light, while AO associated with denatured, single-stranded DNA fluoresces red. The treated sperm are placed into a flow cytometer where the sperm cells or nuclei rapidly pass in single file fashion through a quartz flow chamber. A laser beam intersects the stream of cells and provides the energy to produce green and/or red fluorescence in each of 5000 cells measured per sample. Within seconds of time, calculated parameters of each cell and the entire population are displayed in live time on a computer monitor.

Extensive studies have shown a very high degree of correlation between the percent and degree of DNA damage and the fertility potential of the male. Likewise, studies on environmental exposure to potential toxic agents have shown a very high dose response relationship between exposure and SCSA data. This assay has received a great deal of interest as having significant potential in the animal and human clinic to assess the quality of DNA damage in sperm that may be used for fertilization.

The need for this type of assay has been greatly intensified as researchers and clinicians are now injecting single sperm into oocytes (ICSI) where the sperm has bypassed many of Mother Nature’s quality checks. In ICSI the only important consideration for clinical decisions is whether the integrity of the DNA is sufficiently high for the successful transfer of the male genetic contribution to the female oocyte for a healthy offspring. Some alterations that have an effect on proper embryonic maturation.can only be detected by our SCSA. Other biochemical tests complement our SCSA in evaluating the integrity of the male genome. These are:
• single cell gel electrophoresis of sperm nuclear DNA
• gel electrophoresis of sperm nuclear proteins
• biochemical tagging DNA strand breaks with fluorochrome-nucleosides
and quantitating the extent of fluorescence
• staining sperm nuclear DNA with a variety of DNA fluorochromes and measuring interactions between labeled bases by methods of energy transfer and life-time of fluorescence.

This last one provides information on the structural alterations of the chromosomes related to damage caused by disease and/or environmental exposure. Many of the biochemical measurements are further related to data obtained from light microscopy including some new computer-driven image analysis systems and laser/ computer-driven confocal microscopy. In this era of genetic manipulations and assisted reproductive techniques, our research program is making a valuable contribution.

Peer Reviewed Publications (1997-2002)
Evenson, D.P. (2002) Assessment of sperm using the sperm chromatin structure assay. Proceedings UCLA 15th Annual In Vitro Insemination and Embryo Transfer Course, July 14-17, UCLA, 2002.

Evenson, D.P. (2002) Role of sperm chromatin damage in abnormal reproductive outcomes. Society for Theriogeneology /ACT Annual Conference & Symposia Proceedings. Published by SFT. Colorado Springs, CO, Aug 7-11, 2002.

Saleh, R. A., Nada, E.A., Kandirali, E., Sharma, R. K., Larson, K.L., Nelson, D.R., El-Tonsy, M.H., Evenson, D.P., Alvarez, J.G., Thomas, A.J. and Agarwal, A. (2002) Leukocytospermia is associated with increased leukocyte-induced reactive oxygen species production by human sperm. In press.

Ollero, M.,Gil-Guzman, E., Lopez, M.C., Sharma, R.K., Salah, R.A., Larson, K., Evenson, D., Thomas, A.J., Jr., Alvarez, J.G., and Agarwal, A. (2002) Increased DNA damage in sperm from leukocytospermic semen samples as determined by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Fertility and Sterility. In press.

Sakkas, D., and Evenson D.P. (2002) Assessment of sperm nuclear DNA integrity. Alpha - Scientists in Reproductive Medicine. April 25, (25) 1-3.

Perreault, S.D., Aitken R.J., Baker, H.W.G., Evenson, D.P., Huszar, G., Irvine D.S., Morris, R.A., Robbins W.A., Sakkas D., Spano, M., and Wyrobek, A.J. (2002) Integrating new tests of sperm genetic integrity into semen analysis: summary of breakout group discussion. Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Male-Mediated Developmental Toxicity.

Evenson, D.P., Larson, K., and Jost, L.K. (2002) The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSATM): clinical use for detecting sperm DNA fragmentation related to male infertility and comparisons with other techniques. Andrology Lab Corner. J Andrology 23: 25-43.

Hiroshi, K., Larson, K., Sharma, R., Nelson, D., Evenson, D., Hiroshi, T., Thomas, A. Jr., Agarwal, A. (2001) DNA damage in cancer patients before treatment as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay. Fertility and Sterility 75: 469-475.

Krzyzosiak, J., Evenson, D., Pitt, C., Jost, L., Molan, P., and Vishwanath, R. (2001) Changes in susceptibility of bovine sperm to in situ DNA denaturation during prolonged storage at ambient temperature under conditions of exposure to reactive oxygen species and nuclease inhibitor. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 12: 251-261.

Evenson, D. (2001) Utility of the sperm chromatin structure assay in the art laboratory. Reproductive Medicine Forum 1: 8-10.

Perreault, S.D., Aitken R.J., Baker, H.W.G., Evenson, D.P., Huszar, G., Irvine D.S., Morris, R.A., Robbins W.A., Sakkas D., Spano, M., and Wyrobek, A.J. (2002) Integrating new tests of sperm genetic integrity into semen analysis: summary of breakout group discussion. Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Male-Mediated Developmental Toxicity.

Ostermeier, G.C., Sargeant, G.A., Yandell, B. S., Evenson, D.P., and Parrish, J.J. (2001) The relationship of bull fertility to sperm nuclear shape. J Andrology 22: 595-603.

Larson, K.L., Brannian, J.D., Singh, N.P., Burbach, J.A., Jost, L.K., Hansen, K.P., Kreger, D.O., and Evenson, D.P. (2001) Chromatin structure in globozoospermia: a case report. J Andrology 22: 424-431.

Ollero, M.,Gil-Guzman, E., Lopez, M.C., Sharma, R.K., Agarwal, A., Larson, K., Evenson, D., Thomas, A.J., Jr., and Alvarez, J.G. (2001) Characterization of subsets of human spermatozoa at different stages of maturation: implications in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Human Reproduction, 16: 1912-1921.

Evenson, D.P., Jost, L.K., Corzett, M. and Balhorn R. (2001) Effect of elevated body temperature on human sperm chromatin structure. J Andrology 21: 739-746.

Selevan, S.G., Borkovec, L., Slott, V.L., Zudova, Z., Rubes, J., Evenson, D.P., and Perreault, S.D. (2001) Semen quality and reproductive health of young czech men exposed to seasonal air pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives 108:1-9.

Kobayahsi, H., Larson, K., Sharma, R.K., Nelson, D.R., Evenson, D.P., Toma, H., Thomas, A.J., Agarwal, A. (2001) DNA damage in patients with untreated cancer as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay. Fert Steril. 75:469-475.

Evenson, D.P., Jost, L.K., Perreault, S.D., Selevan S.G., and Rubes,J. (2001) Application of the sperm chromatin structure assay to the Teplice Program semen studies: a new method for evaluating sperm nuclear chromatin damage. Proceedings of Conference on the Teplice Program, Academia, pp 167-180.

Perreault, S.D., Selevan S.G., Zudava, D., Zudova, Z, Evenson, D.P. and Rubes, J. (2001) Male reproductive health studies in the Teplice Program: Air pollution and semen quality in young Czech men. Proc of Conference on the Teplice Program, Academia. pp 155-166.

Perreault, S.D., Rubes, J., Robbins, W.A., Evenson, D.P. and Selevan, S.G. (2000) Evaluation of aneuploidy and DNA damage in human spermatozoa: application in field studies. Andrologia 32: 247-254.

Larson, K., DeJonge, C., Barnes, A., Jost, L. and Evenson, D. (2000) Relationship between assisted reproductive techniques (ART) outcome and status of chromatin integrity as measured by the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). Human Reproduction 15: 1717-1722.

Grajewski, B., Cox, C., Schrader, S.M., Murray, W.E., Edwards, R. M., Turner, T., Smith, J. M., Shekar, S., Evenson, D., Simon, S., W., and Conover, D.L. (2000) Semen quality and hormone levels among radiofrequency heat sealer operators. J. Occup. and Env. Med. 42:993-1005.

Evenson, D.P., Jost, L.K., and Varner, D.D. (2000) Stallion sperm nuclear protamine -SH status and susceptibility to DNA denaturation are not strongly correlated. J. Fertility and Reproduction Supplement : Equine Reproduction VII.

Evenson, D.P. (1999) Loss of livestock breeding efficiency due to uncompensable sperm nuclear defects. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 11 (1):1-15.

Lemasters, G.K., Olsen, D.M., Yiin, J.H., Lockey, J.E., Shukla, R., Selevan, S.G., Schrader, S.M., Toth, G.P., Evenson, D.P. and Huszar, G.B. (1999) Male reproductive effects of solvent and fuel exposure during aircraft maintenance. Reprod. Toxicology, 13:155-166.

Evenson, D.P. (1999) Alterations and damage of sperm chromatin structure and early embryonic failure. In: Towards Reproductive Certainty: Fertility and Genetics Beyond 1999. (Jannsen, R., and Mortimer, D., Eds.). Plenary Proceedings of the 11th World Congress on In Vitro Fertilization and Human Reproductive Genetics. Parthenon Publishing Group Ltd., New York/London. Chapter 15, pp. 313-329.

Larson, K.L., Brannian, J.D., Timm, B.K., Jost, L.K. and Evenson, D.P. (1999) Density gradient centrifugation and glass wool filtration of semen remove sperm with damaged chromatin. Human Reproduction 14:2015-2019.

Ellington, J.E., Evenson, D.P., Wright, R., Jones, A.E., Schneider, C.S., Hiss, G., and Brisbois, S. (1999) Higher quality human sperm in a sample selectively attach to oviduct (fallopian tube) epithelial cells in vitro. Fert. Ster. 71:924-929.

Evenson, D.P., Jost, L.K., Zinaman, M.J., Clegg, E., Purvis, K., de Angelis, P. and Clausen, O.P. (1999) Utility of the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the human fertility clinic. Human Reproduction 14(4):1039-1049.

Hirsch, I., Huang, B., Chancellor, M.B., Rivas, D.A., Salzman, S.A., Jost, L.K. and Evenson, D.P. (1999) Spermatogenesis in the early and chronic phases of experimental spinal cord injury in the rodent model. J. Androl. 20:63-71.

Rubes, J., Lowe, X., Moore, D., Perreault, S., Slott, V., Evenson, D., Selevan, S., and Wyrobek, A.J. (1998) Cigarette-smoking lifestyle is associated with increased sperm disomy in teenage men. Fert. Steril. 70:715-723.

Selevan, S.G., Borkovec, L., Slott, V.L., Zudova, Z., Rubes, J., Evenson, D.P., and Perreault, S.D. (1998) Air pollution and semen quality in young men residing in two Czech communities. Veterinary Medicine-CZ 43: 286-286.

Kempinas, W. De G., Suarez, J. D., Roberts, N. L., Strader, L., Ferrell, J., Goldman, J. M., Narotsky, M.G., Perreault, S. D., Evenson, D.P., Ricker, D. D. and Klinefelter, G. R. (1998) Fertilizing ablity of rat epididymal sperm after chemically- and surgically induced spympathectomy. Biol. Repro. 59(4):897-904.

Donoghue, A.M., Holsberger, D.R., Evenson, D.P., and Froman, D.P. (1998) Semen donor selection by in vitro sperm mobility increases fertility and semen storage in the turkey hen. J. Androl. 19:295-301.

Ellington, J.E., Evenson, D.P., Fleming, J., Rice, G., Brisbois, S., Hiss, G., Wright, R., Benson, A., and Broder, S. (1998) Coculture of human sperm with bovine oviduct epithelial cells decreases sperm chromatin structural changes during culture in medium alone. Fert. Steril. 69:643-649.

Maleszewski, M., Kuretake, S., Evenson, D.P., Yanagimachi, H., Bjordahl, J. and Yanagimachi, R. (1998) Behavior of transgenic mouse spermatozoa with avian protamine. Biol. Reprod. 58:8-14.

Aravindan, G.R., Bjordahl, J., Jost, L.K., and Evenson, D.P. (1997) Susceptibility of human sperm to in situ DNA denaturation is strongly correlated with DNA strand breaks indentified by single-cell electrophoresis. Experimental Cell Research 236:231-237.

Fossa, S.D., De Angelis, P., Kraggerud, S.M., Evenson, D., Theodorsen, L., and Claussen, O.P. (1997) Prediction of post-treatment spermatogenesis in patients with testicular cancer by flow cytometric sperm chromatin structure assay. Comm in Clinical Cytometry 30:192-196.

Karabinus, D.S., Vogler, C.J., Saacke, R.G. and Evenson, D.P. (1997) Chromatin structural changes in bovine sperm after scrotal insulation of Holstein bulls. J. Androl 18:549-555.

Sailer, B.L., Sarkar, L.J., Jost, L.K., Bjordahl, J. and Evenson, D.P. (1997) Effects of heat stress on mouse testicular cells and sperm chromatin structure as measured by flow cytometry. J Androl 18:294-301.

Evenson, D.P. (1997) Sperm nuclear DNA strand breaks and altered chromatin structure: Are there concerns for natural fertility and assisted fertility in the andrology lab? Moving Beyond Boundaries: Clinical Andrology in the 21st Century. Andrology Laboratory Workshop. Postgraduate Course. Baltimore, MD.

Wyrobek, A.J., Schrader, S.M., Perrault, S.D., Fenster, L., Huszar, G., Katz, D.F., Osorio, A.M., Sublet, V. and Evenson, D. (1997) Assessment of reproductive disorders and birth defects in communities near hazardous chemical sites. III. Guidelines for field studies of male reproductive disorders. Reproductive Toxicology 11:243-259.

In Preparation or Submitted:
Brake, D.G. and Evenson, D.P. (2002) Effects of GMO Soybeans on mouse reproductive development. In preparation.

Evenson, D.P., and DeJonge, C. (2002) Uniqueness and predictive power of the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) in the infertility clinic. Proceedings of ESHRE. Submitted.

Vine, M.F., Hulka, B.S., Everson, R.B., and Evenson, D. (2002) An assessment of DNA damage in the sperm of smokers and nonsmokers using the sperm chromatin structure assay. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. (submitted)

Penfold, L.M., Evenson, D.E., and Wildt, D.E. (2002) Comparison of normo- and teratospermic domestic cat sperm chromatin structure evaluated by flow cytometry and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Biology of Reproduction (submitted).

Luttinen, D.L., Memon, M.A., Wright, R.W. Jr., Evenson, D.P., Jost, L.K., Ellington, J.E. (2002) Comparative function of epididymal versus ejaculated domestic dog (Canis familiaris) sperm before and after cryopreservation. (submitted)