Context: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), which is secreted by immature Sertoli cells, triggers the involution of the fetal Mullerian ducts. AMH is a testis-specific marker used for diagnosis in infants with ambiguous genitalia or bilateral cryptorchidism. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the ontogeny of AMH secretion through life in healthy males. Setting:This was a population-based study of healthy volunteers. Participants: Participants included 1027 healthy males from birth (cord blood) to 69 yr. A subgroup was followed up longitudinally through the infantile minipuberty [(in cord blood, and at 3 and 12 months), n = 55] and another group through puberty [(biannual measurements), n = 83]. Main Outcome Measures: Serum AMH was determined by a sensitive immunoassay. Serum testosterone, LH, and FSH were measured, and pubertal staging was performed in boys aged 6 to 20 yr (n = 616). Results: Serum AMH was above the detection limit in all samples with a marked variation according to age and pubertal sta...

Changes in Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) throughout the Life Span: A Population-Based Study of 1027 Healthy Males from Birth (Cord Blood) to the Age of 69 Years

Differential Production of Reactive Oxygen Species by Subsets of Human Spermatozoa

Conventional semen analyses have limitations in male infertility diagnosis and prognosis Assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) has been proposed to discriminate fertile from infertile men and predict FSH treatment response in infertile men, although a comprehensive evaluation of this is not available The aims of these meta-analyses were to assess the power of sDF in male infertility diagnosis and its role in predicting FSH therapy response in infertile men Two literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus and UpToDate First, interventional/observational clinical trials comparing fertile to infertile/subfertile men were included Second, interventional/observational clinical trials evaluating FSH-treated infertile men were assessed sDF levels were significantly higher in infertile men considering 28 studies (P

Sperm DNA fragmentation index as a promising predictive tool for male infertility diagnosis and treatment management – meta-analyses

With increasing evidence for faulty paternal contribution to reproduction, there has been a steady increase in studies highlighting an association between sperm DNA damage, failed/delayed fertilisation and aberrant embryo development. Owing to prevailing ambiguity, the aims of the study were to analyse the genetic integrity of the male gamete and then to understand its association with age, standard semen parameters, lifestyle and occupational factors. The study included 504 subjects, attending university infertility clinic for fertility evaluation and treatment. Semen characteristics were analysed by standard criteria; terminal deoxynucelotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labelling assay was employed for DNA damage assessment. The average incidence of sperm DNA damage in patients with normozoospermic semen parameters was <10%. Patients with oligozoospermia, severe oligozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and necrozoospermia had significantly higher level of sperm DNA damage (P < 0.001). Patients above 40 years of age had significantly high levels of DNA damage (P < 0.001) compared with their counterparts. Patients with varicocele and a history of alcohol consumption had higher incidence of spermatozoa with DNA damage (P < 0.01). Poor sperm characteristics in the ejaculate are associated with increased sperm DNA damage. Age-related increase in sperm DNA damage and association of the same with varicocele and alcohol consumption are also demonstrated.

Poor sperm quality and advancing age are associated with increased sperm DNA damage in infertile men.

Sperm progressive motility has been reported to be one of the key factors influencing in vitro fertilization rates. However, recent studies have shown that sperm DNA fragmentation is a more robust predictor of assisted reproductive outcomes including reduced fertilization rates, embryo quality, and pregnancy rates. This study aimed to compare the usefulness of sperm progressive motility and DNA damage as predictive tools of in vitro fertilization rates. Here, 136 couples provided 1,767 eggs with an overall fertilization rate of 64.2%. The fertilization rate in vitro correlated with both sperm progressive motility (r 2 = 0.236; P= 0.002) and DNA fragmentation (r 2 = �0.318; P 40%) compared with 2.6 times in sperm with poor motility ( 70%) was 4.81 (1.89–12.65) using progressive motility compared with 24.18 (5.21–154.51) using DNA fragmentation. This study shows that fertilization rates are directly dependent upon both sperm progressive motility and DNA fragmentation, but sperm DNA fragmentation is a much stronger test.

http://www.spermcomet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Simon-and-Lewis-SBRM-2011.pdf

Sperm DNA damage or progressive motility: which one is the better predictor of fertilization in vitro?

Reports indicate an increase in the incidence of DNA fragmentation in male factor infertility and its role in the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). However, reports are conflicting between the relationships of sperm DNA integrity with conventional semen parameters. We examined the relationship between conventional sperm parameters and DNA integrity using acridine orange (AO) test. The study included 373 patients and 28 fertile volunteers. DNA normality was compared with semen parameters between the patient and donor populations. Significant correlations were noted between DNA normality and sperm concentration (r = 0.18, P = 0.000), motility (r = 0.21, P = 0.0001), rapid motility (0.19, P = 0.000), normal morphology by World Health Organization (r = 0.15, P = 0.019) and head defects (r = -0.15, P = 0.023). A significant difference was noted in AO levels between donors and patients with asthenozoospermia (P = 0.002) and oligoasthenozoospermia (P = 0.001). A significant difference in DNA integrity was noted in samples having 30% normal morphology. A wide range of % DNA normality was observed in the patient group. Sperm assessment for DNA status using AO is reliable and shows good correlation with sperm count, motility and morphology. Assessment of sperm DNA status with AO staining may be helpful prior to ART.

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Human sperm DNA integrity in normal and abnormal semen samples and its correlation with sperm characteristics

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is fundamental for Sertoli cell function stimulating spermatogenesis and follicular growth by a specific receptor (FSHR). This work aimed to investigate the occurrence of Asn and Ser FSHR gene variants and its relationship with seminal anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) among normozoospermic and infertile oligoasthenozoospermic (OAT) males. Eighty-two Caucasian males grouped into normozoospermic healthy controls (n = 30) and infertile OAT males (n = 52). FSHR gene variants were determined by DNA from anti-coagulated blood and underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and electrophoresis in detecting amplification products. AMH in seminal plasma was determined by ELISA. The results showed that the frequency of FSHR gene variants among fertile men was 46.7% Asn/Asn (N680S), 33.3% Asn/Ser, and 20% Ser/Ser, whereas among OAT men were 34.6%, 38.5% and 26.9% respectively with nonsignificant differences. Seminal AMH was significantly higher in fertile than infertile OAT men. There was significant increase in seminal AMH with Asn/Asn variant of FSHR gene than those with Asn/Ser or Ser/Ser. It is concluded that FSH gene variants showed no difference in distribution between fertile or infertile OAT men. However, when correlated with seminal AMH values, there was an increase in Asn/Asn in men with high seminal AMH.

/pdf/follicle-stimulating-hormone-receptor-polymorphism-and-5fra4t2s1t.pdf

F. M. Bragais

Papers

Human sperm DNA integrity in normal and abnormal semen samples and its correlation with sperm characteristics

Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor polymorphism and seminal anti-Müllerian hormone in fertile and infertile men.