scholarly journals Correlation among isolated teratozoospermia, sperm DNA fragmentation and markers of systemic inflammation in primary infertile men

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0251608
Author(s):  
Luigi Candela ◽  
Luca Boeri ◽  
Paolo Capogrosso ◽  
Walter Cazzaniga ◽  
Edoardo Pozzi ◽  
...  

Aim To assess the prevalence of isolated teratozoospermia (iTZS) in a cohort of infertile and fertile men; explore the relationship between iTZS, inflammatory parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (SDF) in the same cohort. Materials and methods 1824 infertile men and 103 fertile controls. Semen analysis, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and serum hormones were investigated. DFI was tested in infertile men only. According to 2010 WHO semen analysis, patients were categorized in 3 sub-groups of isolated sperm defects: isolated oligozoospermia (iOZS), isolated asthenozoospermia (iAZS) and iTZS. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models tested the association between clinical variables and inflammatory markers. Results Among infertile men, iAZS, iTZS, and iOZS were found in 13.9%, 11.9% and 4.1% participants, respectively. iTZS was found in 37 (35.9%) fertile men. Infertile men with iTZS had higher NLR values than those with iOZS, iAZS and men with normal semen parameters (all p<0.001). FSH and LH were higher and inhibin B lower in iOZS infertile men compared to all other groups (p≤0.001). Hormonal characteristics were similar between iTZS infertile and fertile men. Similarly, iTZS infertile men had higher SDF than all other groups (all p<0.001). Infertile men with iTZS had higher NLR values than fertile men with iTZS (p<0.01). Linear regression analysis showed that, in infertile men, iTZS was associated with SDF and NLR (all p≤0.01). Conclusions iTZS was found in 11.9% of infertile men but it was even more prevalent in fertile controls. Infertile men with iTZS had higher NLR than fertile controls and increased SDF values than infertile participant with iAZS, iOZS, or normal semen parameters. No differences in hormonal characteristics were found between infertile and fertile men with iTZS.

Andrologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Lok Tung Ho ◽  
Daniella R. Vaughan‐Constable ◽  
Jonathan Ramsay ◽  
Channa Jayasena ◽  
Tharu Tharakan ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Alargkof ◽  
Larissa Kersten ◽  
Romil Stanislavov ◽  
Zdravko Kamenov ◽  
Panagiotis Nikolinakos

Objective: This exploratory retrospective study aimed to compare the level of Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) and investigate its association with bulk semen parameters, for the first time in Bulgarian patients with varicocele, using a distinct methodology. Material and methods: Standard semen analysis was performed according to the 2010 criteria of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology - Nordic Association for Andrology (ESHRE-NAFA-2010) and DNA fragmentation was assessed using the Halosperm® kit. The total sample included 28 males: the control group consisted of men with normal genital examination and unknown fertility (n = 10), group one consisted of men with varicocele, normozoospermia and DNA fragmentation > 15% (n = 9) and group two consisted of men with varicocele, abnormal sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation > 15% (n = 9). Results: DNA fragmentation was found to be higher in patients with abnormal sperm parameters (43.78 ± 30.78) compared to the normozoospermic group (21.22 ± 3.93) (p = 0.008). In normozoospermic patients, no statistically significant correlations were observed between SDF and bulk semen parameters. In patients with abnormal sperm parameters, DNA fragmentation exhibited significant very strong negative association with motility (a+b), vitality and typical morphology (p < 0.001). Conclusions: DNA integrity assays could be used for a better evaluation and management of male infertility, particularly in normozoospermic varicocele patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bashir M. Ayad ◽  
Ibukun P. Oyeyipo ◽  
Gerhard Van der Horst ◽  
Stefan S. Du Plessis

Abstract Background Affordable conventional semen analysis remains a fundamental procedure to be performed routinely during the diagnosis of male infertility. Advanced semen analyses provide valuable clinical insights in treatment-related decision-making, but these are highly expensive and lack universal standardization. This study aimed at determining the relationship between conventional semen parameters, measured with assistance of computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), and a set of advanced semen tests. Basic semen analysis (n = 124) was performed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Sperm DNA fragmentation and intracellular superoxide (O2−•) levels were assessed by flow cytometry. Seminal plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were measured by spectrophotometry. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results Semen pH correlated negatively with TBARS (p < 0.01). The proportions of total and progressively motile as well as rapid spermatozoa correlated positively with CAT activity (p < 0.05). Sperm viability correlated negatively with both O2−• (p < 0.05) and DNA fragmentation (p = 0.01), while normal morphology correlated negatively with O2−• levels (p < 0.05) and positively with CAT activity (p < 0.05). Straight-line velocity (VCL) and average-path velocity (VAP) correlated negatively with both O2−• (p < 0.01) and TBARS (p < 0.01). Amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) correlated negatively with O2−• (p < 0.01) and DNA fragmentation (p < 0.01), while its correlation with SOD activity was positive (p < 0.05). Conclusion The results obtained from this study support the validity of some CASA parameters as sensitive indicators of changes in sperm oxidative status and DNA integrity. Predicting advanced from conventional parameters through the building of linear regression models should be considered for future studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 68-76
Author(s):  
T. V. Shatylko ◽  
S. I. Gamidov ◽  
A. Yu. Popova

Introduction. Direct influence of novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on male fertility is still unproven. However, through prolonged fever, hypoxia, systemic inflammation and other yet incompletely described factors this disease may apparently cause not only “long COVID” syndrome, but also transitory non-specific impairment of spermatogenesis. The study objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of administration of Russian complex with unique composition BESTFertil in case of decreased fertility and asthenic syndrome in males after new coronavirus infection.Materials and methods. We performed a non-blinded randomized prospective controlled trial which included 60 male patients with a history of COVID-19 not earlier than 6 months prior to enrollment from couples planning to have children. Patients were included if they had pre-disease semen analysis results available. They were divided into two equal groups. Group 1 (main group) received BESTFertil complex for 12 weeks, while Group 2 (comparison group) received no additional treatment. At baseline and 12-week follow-up all patients underwent semen analysis, MAR test, sperm DNA fragmentation test, serum sex hormone profiling and completed the “Asthenic condition scale” questionnaire. Student's t-test, Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney U-test and McNemar test were used for statistical analysis.Results. When comparing retrospective and baseline values we found no critical influence of COVID-19 on semen parameters, though a moderate decrease of percentage of sperm with progressive motility could be observed (40.5 % vs 30 %, p = 0.008). Group 1 had a stronger tendency toward recovery of semen parameters. Patients receiving BESTFertil had median total motile sperm count increased from 48.5 million to 76.8 million (p = 0.032), while in comparison group it increased from 39.8 million to 49.2 million (p = 0.317). BESTFertil antioxidant complex had no negative influence on endocrine profile. Moreover, there was a statistically significant decrease of sperm DNA fragmentation index from 21.2 to 13.9 % (p = 0.007) in Group 1. Lower rate of asthenic symptoms was observed in Group 1 which received BESTFertil.Conclusion. Men with a recent history of COVID-19 had a moderate decrease of surrogate fertility markers, most probably due to non-specific mechanisms. Patients receiving BESTFertil had a more pronounced recovery of semen parameters and improvement in post-COVID asthenic syndrome.


Author(s):  
Kamil Gill ◽  
Michal Kups ◽  
Patryk Harasny ◽  
Tomasz Machalowski ◽  
Marta Grabowska ◽  
...  

Since varicocele is so common in infertile men, this study intends to analyse the relationships between varicocele and conventional semen characteristics, sperm nuclear DNA dispersion and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in semen. Varicocele-positive and varicocele-negative infertile men (study groups) showed significantly lower standard sperm parameters and higher sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and ORP in semen than healthy volunteers and subjects with proven fertility (control groups). A lower proportion of low SDF levels (0–15% SDF) and higher incidence of high SDF levels (>30% SDF), as well as a higher prevalence of high ORP values (>1.37 mV/106 sperm/mL), were found in the study groups vs. the control groups. Moreover, infertile men had significantly lower odds ratios (ORs) for low SDF levels and significantly higher ORs for high SDF levels and high ORP. SDF and ORP were negatively correlated with sperm number, morphology, motility and vitality. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between SDF and ORP. The obtained results suggest that disorders of spermatogenesis may occur in varicocele-related infertility. These abnormalities are manifested not only by reduced standard semen parameters but also by decreased sperm DNA integrity and simultaneously increased oxidative stress in semen.


2012 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. S47-S48
Author(s):  
L. Rubal ◽  
A.M. Hernandez ◽  
S. Ingles ◽  
M. Scrooc ◽  
K. Bendikson

2008 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Gallegos ◽  
Benito Ramos ◽  
Rebeca Santiso ◽  
Vicente Goyanes ◽  
Jaime Gosálvez ◽  
...  

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