Seminal fluid proteins induce transcriptome changes in the Aedes aegypti female lower reproductive tract

Background Mating induces behavioral and physiological changes in the arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti, including stimulation of egg development and oviposition, increased survival, and reluctance to re-mate with subsequent males. Transferred seminal fluid proteins and peptides derived from the male accessory glands induce these changes, though the mechanism by which they do this is not known. Results To determine transcriptome changes induced by seminal proteins, we injected extract from male accessory glands and seminal vesicles (MAG extract) into females and examined female lower reproductive tract (LRT) transcriptomes 24 h later, relative to non-injected controls. MAG extract induced 87 transcript-level changes, 31 of which were also seen in a previous study of the LRT 24 h after a natural mating, including 15 genes with transcript-level changes similarly observed in the spermathecae of mated females. The differentially-regulated genes are involved in diverse molecular processes, including immunity, proteolysis, neuronal function, transcription control, or contain predicted small-molecule binding and transport domains. Conclusions Our results reveal that seminal fluid proteins, specifically, can induce gene expression responses after mating and identify gene targets to further investigate for roles in post-mating responses and potential use in vector control.

Docosahexaenoic acid in the treatment of male infertility caused by high sperm DNA fragmentation

Introduction. Antioxidant supplementation therapy continues to be the main treatment for male infertility associated with high level of sperm DNA damage. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one of the most promising components of antioxidant supplementation therapy. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that makes it interesting for treatment of patients with high level of sperm DNA damage and inflammation in male accessory glands.Materials and methods.One hundred and seventeen (117) infertile patients with high level of sperm DNA damage were recruited for this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Semen analysis, MAR-test, SCD test and sperm cryotolerance test were performed to all patients. Subjects were divided into 2 groups with high (>1 mln / ml) and low (<1 mln / ml) semen leucocyte concertation and then randomized into 2 subgroups of active treatment and 2 placebo subgroups. The active treatment subgroups received 1470 mg / day of DHA for 3 months. The placebo group received placebo for the same period. Laboratory tests were repeated after the treatment course had been finished.Results. Statistically significant increase in motility (42 % (25–61 %) vs 25 % (15–47 %), p <0.05), vitality (73 % (63–81 %) vs 41 % (35–64 %), p <0.05), decrease in sperm DNA fragmentation level (21 % (12–28 %) vs 33 % (25–39 %), p <0.05) and leucocyte concentration (1 million / ml (0.7–1.7 million / ml) vs 1,5 million / ml (1.1–2.1 million / ml), p <0.05) were observed in the subgroup with male accessory glands inflammation after treatment. Motility (15 % (8–19 %) vs 8 % (5–11 %), p <0.05) and vitality (37 % (25–46 %) vs 24 % (17–40 %), p <0.05) in this subgroup after a sperm cryotolerance test increased as well. In the subgroup with low semen leucocyte concertation statistically significant increase in motility (43 % (27–63 %) vs 34 % (21–54 %), p <0.05), vitality (77 % (66–85 %) vs 65 % (54.5–76.0 %), p <0.05) and decrease of sperm DNA fragmentation level (9 % (5.5–20.0 %) vs 25 % (18–33 %), p <0.05) were observed. DHA supplementation also resulted in statistically significant increase in motility (17 % (10–23 %) vs 6 % (5.0–10.5 %), p <0.05) and vitality (41 % (32.5–53.0 %) vs 37 % (30–49 %), p <0.05) after a sperm cryotolerance test in that subgroup.Conclusion. DHA supplementation therapy increases motility, vitality, sperm cryotolerance and decreases sperm DNA fragmentation regardless of the presence of an inflammatory process in male accessory glands.

LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS OF MALE INFERTILITY. BIOMARKERS AND METHODS. Part II

The new paradigm have been arise concerning to samples, markers and methods for assessment of male infertility. Nowadays, a sample “semen” and “sperm sediment” take a key role in examination and management of the subfertile couple. The advantages of sample “semen” such as non-invasive painless procedure as well as the wider range of diagnostic findings by number of methods (cytology, molecular and cultural) highlight the increasly importance of this diagnostic approach in comparison with conventional ones – prostate secretion and urethral scraping which obtained by invasive procedures – by massage and damaging a mucus membrane, respectively. According to the Russian register this review also presents the current situation with the work list of kits and devices for assessment of male infertility and inflammatory of male accessory glands.

Male Accessory Glands Infections: Mechanisms of Influence on Male Fertility

Male accessory glands infections (MAGI) are considered one of the causes of male infertility. Chronic prostatitis is the most prevalent form of MAGI. Researches that assessed the influence of chronic prostatitis on conventional semen parameters have shown contradictory results, so the debate regarding this issue continues. Conventional semen parameters are imperfect markers of male fertility, as many men remain infertile despite being normozoospermic. The search for reliable predictors of male fertility continues to this day. Oxidative stress is considered one of the main pathogenetic mechanisms of male infertility. Free radical oxidation is the leading cause of spermatozoa DNA damage. Spermatozoa DNA fragmentation caused by oxidative stress was associated with a number of unsuccessful reproductive outcomes. There are several factors that are responsible for making spermatozoa vulnerable to free radical damage including abnormal maturation characterized by insufficient chromatin protamination. Acrosin activity defines the ability of spermatozoa to penetrate the ovum membrane and is therefore an independent marker of spermatozoa fertilizing capacity. Possible mechanisms of chronic prostatitis influence on male fertility and current scientific data regarding its association with novel predictors of male infertility are discussed in this article.The study did not have sponsorship. The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.