981 OUTER DENSE FIBERS ABNORMALITIES IN SPERMATOOZOA OF IOAT PATIENTS AND THEIR RELATION TO OXIDATIVE STRESS AND SPERM MOTILITY

Schisandra chinensis Baillon (SC) has been utilized for its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory activities in a broad variety of medical applications. However; SC uses for improving fertility in males and related disorders with proper scientific validation remain obscure. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of SC on varicocele (VC)-induced testicular dysfunction and the potential molecular mechanism associated with VC-induced germ cell apoptosis. The male Sprague–Dawley rats were equally divided into four groups consisting of 10 rats in a normal control group (CTR), a control group administered SC 200 mg/kg (SC 200), a varicocele-induced control group (VC), and a varicocele-induced group administered SC 200 mg/kg (VC + SC 200). Rats were administrated 200 mg/kg SC once daily for 28 days after induction of varicocele rats and sham controls. At the end of the treatment period, body and reproductive organ weight, sperm parameters, histopathological damages, proinflammatory cytokines, apoptosis markers, biomarkers of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) were evaluated. The effects of SC extract on human sperm motility were also analyzed. SC treatment reduces VC-induced testicular dysfunction by significantly increasing testicular weight, sperm count and sperm motility, serum testosterone level, Johnsen score, spermatogenic cell density, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase level, and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) level. Furthermore, the effects of SC on malondialdehyde (MDA) level, reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) level, apoptotic index, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, Glucose-regulated protein-78 (Grp 78), phosphorylated c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), phosphorylated inositol-requiring transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease 1α (p-IRE1α), cleaved caspase 3, and Bax:Bcl2 in VC-induced rats were significantly decreased. Treatment with SC extracts also increased sperm motility in human sperm. Our findings suggest that the SC ameliorate testicular dysfunction in VC-induced rats via crosstalk between oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondrial-mediated testicular germ cell apoptosis signaling pathways. SC promotes spermatogenesis by upregulating abnormal sex hormones and decreasing proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6; TNF-α).

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Antioxidant Effect of the Castanea sativa Mill. Leaf Extract on Oxidative Stress Induced upon Human Spermatozoa

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2019/8926075 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marco Biagi ◽

Daria Noto ◽

Maddalena Corsini ◽

Giulia Baini ◽

Daniela Cerretani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Leaf Extract ◽

Colorimetric Assay ◽

Castanea Sativa ◽

High Concentration ◽

Tem Analysis ◽

Dpph Test

This study was aimed at evaluating in vitro the effects of a 75% v/v ethanolic extract of leaves of Castanea sativa Mill. (var. Bastarda Rossa, Mount Amiata, Tuscany, Italy) on ejaculated human sperm. Total polyphenols and total flavonoids contained in the extract were determined by a colorimetric assay and HPLC-DAD. The DPPH test and electrochemistry were utilized to study the antioxidant activity of the extract. Swim-up-selected sperm from 8 healthy men were treated with the C. sativa leaf extract at different dilutions (1 : 100, 1 : 200, and 1 : 500), and sperm motility was assessed following the WHO guidelines. Swim-up-selected spermatozoa were incubated with 100 μM H2O2 to induce lipid peroxidation (LPO) and with H2O2 and the leaf extract (1 : 100, 1 : 200, and 1 : 500) to test the antioxidant activity of the extract. The levels of LPO were determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. The treated samples were also analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for ultrastructural evaluation. The chemical analysis showed that one-third ca. of the polyphenols in the C. sativa extract were made up of flavonoids, with hyperoside present in high concentration. A good antioxidant activity was demonstrated by both the DPPH test and electrochemical analysis. The C. sativa leaf extract did not decrease sperm motility at all tested dilutions. Treatment with H2O2 alone caused a significant increment in MDA levels (P=0.006993), while the treatment with H2O2 plus C. sativa extract diluted to 1 : 100 and 1 : 200 significantly reduced MDA levels (P=0.01476 and P=0.01571, respectively), with respect to H2O2 alone. TEM analysis confirmed the protective effect of the extract on damage induced by LPO, in particular that occurring at the plasma membrane level. The C. sativa leaf extract could be used in human and farm animal protocols for gamete handling, such as techniques of assisted reproduction and cryopreservation of semen, all conditions in which oxidative stress is exacerbated.

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Seminal plasma has limited counteracting effects following induction of oxidative stress in donkey spermatozoa

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd19192 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 619

Author(s):

Marion Papas ◽

Jaime Catalan ◽

Sebastián Bonilla-Correal ◽

Sabrina Gacem ◽

Jordi Miró ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Hydrogen Peroxide ◽

Membrane Potential ◽

Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Mitochondrial Membrane ◽

Skim Milk ◽

Sperm Parameters ◽

High Concentration

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of donkey spermatozoa to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide, and to determine whether the presence of seminal plasma modulates the sperm response to that stress. Nine ejaculates were collected, extended in skim milk extender and split into two aliquots. Seminal plasma was removed from the first but not second aliquot. Samples were subsequently split into four aliquots supplemented with different concentrations of commercial hydrogen peroxide (0, 100 and 250µM and 50mM). Aliquots were incubated at 37°C under aerobic conditions and several sperm parameters, namely motility, viability, intracellular levels of peroxides and superoxides and mitochondrial membrane potential, were evaluated at 0, 1 and 3h. Exposure to hydrogen peroxide markedly decreased sperm motility but had much less of an effect on sperm viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. A protective effect of seminal plasma against the loss of sperm motility was not apparent, but some kinetic parameters and relative levels of superoxides were better maintained when seminal plasma was present together with high concentration of hydrogen peroxide. In conclusion, oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide reduces donkey sperm motility and has a less apparent effect on other sperm parameters. Finally, seminal plasma is only able to partially ameliorate the detrimental effect of this induced stress.

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Molecular Changes Induced by Oxidative Stress that Impair Human Sperm Motility

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox9020134 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 134 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Karolina Nowicka-Bauer ◽

Brett Nixon

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Antioxidant Defenses ◽

Ros Production ◽

Paternal Genome ◽

Male Reproductive Tract ◽

Ability To Act ◽

The Impact

A state of oxidative stress (OS) and the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the male reproductive tract are strongly correlated with infertility. While physiological levels of ROS are necessary for normal sperm functioning, elevated ROS production can overwhelm the cell’s limited antioxidant defenses leading to dysfunction and loss of fertilizing potential. Among the deleterious pleiotropic impacts arising from OS, sperm motility appears to be particularly vulnerable. Here, we present a mechanistic account for how OS contributes to altered sperm motility profiles. In our model, it is suggested that the abundant polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) residing in the sperm membrane serve to sensitize the male germ cell to ROS attack by virtue of their ability to act as substrates for lipid peroxidation (LPO) cascades. Upon initiation, LPO leads to dramatic remodeling of the composition and biophysical properties of sperm membranes and, in the case of the mitochondria, this manifests in a dissipation of membrane potential, electron leakage, increased ROS production and reduced capacity for energy production. This situation is exacerbated by the production of cytotoxic LPO byproducts such as 4-hydroxynonenal, which dysregulate molecules associated with sperm bioenergetic pathways as well as the structural and signaling components of the motility apparatus. The impact of ROS also extends to lesions in the paternal genome, as is commonly seen in the defective spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic males. Concluding, the presence of OS in the male reproductive tract is strongly and positively correlated with reduced sperm motility and fertilizing potential, thus providing a rational target for the development of new therapeutic interventions.

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Oxidative Stress is Associated with Reduced Sperm Motility in Normal Semen

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988320939731 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 155798832093973

Author(s):

Wiktoria Kurkowska ◽

Agnieszka Bogacz ◽

Marta Janiszewska ◽

Ewa Gabryś ◽

Michał Tiszler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Medical Problems ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Morphological Defects ◽

Factor Alpha ◽

Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase ◽

Necrosis Factor

Infertility is among the most serious medical problems worldwide. Male factors contribute to 40%–50% of all infertility cases, and approximately 7% of men worldwide are affected by infertility. Spermatozoa are extremely vulnerable to oxidative insult. Oxidative stress results in axonemal damage and increased midpiece sperm morphological defects, which lead to reduced sperm motility. The aim of the study is to evaluate the association between sperm motility and the levels of selected antioxidants, cytokines, and markers of oxidative damage in the seminal plasma. The study group included 107 healthy males, who were split into two subgroups based on the percentage of motile spermatozoa after 1 hr: low motility (LM, n = 51) and high motility (HM, n = 56). The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was 52% lower in the LM group compared to that in the HM group. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was 12% higher in the LM group compared to that in the HM group. Similarly, the median values of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were higher in the LM group than those in the HM group. Results of the present study revealed that the percentage of motile spermatozoa after 1 hr correlated positively with the levels of IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12, and TNFα. The lower motility of spermatozoa in healthy men is associated with a decreased activity of G6PD and increased levels of cytokines, which may be related to increased oxidative stress in seminal plasma that manifests as an increased level of MDA.

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Effects of coadministration of DHA and vitamin E on spermatogram, seminal oxidative stress, and sperm phospholipids in asthenozoospermic men: a randomized controlled trial

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqaa124 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 112 (3) ◽

pp. 707-719 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ghazaleh Eslamian ◽

Naser Amirjannati ◽

Nazanin Noori ◽

Mohammad-Reza Sadeghi ◽

Azita Hekmatdoost

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Vitamin E ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Sperm Concentration ◽

Endocrine Function ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Double Blind

ABSTRACT Background It is unknown which compounds in spermatozoa or seminal plasma may be involved in the regulation of sperm motility. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DHA (22:6n–3), vitamin E, and their probable interactions in men with asthenozoospermia. Methods A factorial, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in infertility clinics in Tehran, Iran. The participants were idiopathic asthenozoospermic men aged 20–45 y, with normal endocrine function. Their concentration of spermatozoa and percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa were equal to or above the lower reference limits, according to the fifth edition of the WHO guideline. Out of 717 men referred to the infertility clinics, 180 asthenozoospermic men were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups according to stratified blocked randomization by age and sperm concentration. Participants took daily 465 mg DHA plus 600 IU vitamin E (DE), 465 mg DHA plus placebo (DP), 600 IU vitamin E plus placebo (EP), or both placebo capsules (PP) for 12 wk. Sperm characteristics, oxidative stress of seminal plasma, serum and sperm membrane fatty acids, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements, and physical activity were measured at baseline and after 12 wk. Results After the intervention, mean ± SD sperm progressive motility was greater in the DE group (27.9 ± 2.8) than in the DP (25.7 ± 3.4), EP (26.1 ± 2.8), and PP (25.8 ± 2.6) groups (P < 0.05). Sperm count (P = 0.001) and concentration (P = 0.044) increased significantly in the DE group compared with the other 3 groups, whereas other semen parameters were not significantly different between the groups after the intervention. Serum concentrations of n–3 PUFAs were significantly higher in the DE and DP groups than in the EP and PP groups. Conclusions Combined DHA and vitamin E supplements led to increased sperm motility; however, no significant changes occurred in sperm morphology and vitality in asthenozoospermic men. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01846325.

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Influence of iron on sperm motility and selected oxidative stress parameters in fertile males – a pilot study

Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.5604/12321966.1203893 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 292-296 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Aleksandra Kasperczyk ◽

Michał Dobrakowski ◽

Zenon Czuba ◽

Lucyna Kapka-Skrzypczak ◽

Sławomir Kasperczyk

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Oxidative Stress Parameters ◽

Stress Parameters

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l-carnitine and l-acetylcarnitine supplementation for idiopathic male infertility

Reproduction and Fertility ◽

10.1530/raf-20-0037 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 67-81

Author(s):

Shen Chuen Khaw ◽

Zhen Zhe Wong ◽

Richard Anderson ◽

Sarah Martins da Silva

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Male Infertility ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Pregnancy Rates ◽

The Body ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Cochrane Central Register ◽

Reactive Oxidative Species ◽

Idiopathic Male Infertility ◽

Oxidative Species

Fifteen percent of couples are globally estimated to be infertile, with up to half of these cases attributed to male infertility. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) are known to damage sperm leading to impaired quantity and quality. Although not routinely assessed, oxidative stress is a common underlying pathology in infertile men. Antioxidants have been shown to improve semen analysis parameters by reducing ROS and facilitating repair of damage caused by oxidative stress, but it remains unclear whether they improve fertility. Carnitines are naturally occurring antioxidants in mammals and are normally abundant in the epididymal luminal fluid of men. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of carnitine supplementation for idiopathic male infertility. We searched ClinicalKey, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed and ScienceDirect for relevant studies published from 1 January 2000 to 30 April 2020. Of the articles retrieved, only eight randomised controlled trials were identified and included. Analysis showed that carnitines significantly improve total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility and sperm morphology, but without effect on sperm concentration. There was no demonstrable effect on clinical pregnancy rate in the five studies that included that outcome, although patient numbers were limited. Therefore, the use of carnitines in male infertility appears to improve some sperm parameters but without evidence of an increase in the chance of natural conception. Lay summary Although male infertility affects 1:15 men, there is no obvious reason in the vast majority of cases. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) are highly active molecules containing oxygen and are natural byproducts of normal metabolism. However, high concentrations of ROS have been shown to damage sperm, which negatively impacts a couple’s ability to conceive. Carnitines are natural antioxidants found in the body that counterbalance the damaging effects of ROS. We conducted a comprehensive review of published studies to assess whether carnitine supplements are safe and effective in improving sperm quality and pregnancy rates. Our analysis shows that carnitines improve sperm swimming and production of normal-shaped sperm cells but do not affect sperm count or pregnancy rates, although there are only a few studies and scientific evidence is limited. Whilst it is possible that carnitines may benefit male infertility, more evidence is required regarding chances of pregnancy after carnitine therapy.

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