Journal ArticleDOI
Relative impact of oxidative stress on male reproductive function
TLDR
Assessment of oxidative stress status (OSS) may help in designing newer modes of male factor infertility treatment by suitable antioxidants because a balance between ROS generation and antioxidant capacity plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of disease state.Abstract:
Impairment of normal spermatogenesis and sperm function are the most common causes of male factor infertility. Abnormal sperm function is difficult to evaluate and treat. There is a lack of understanding of the factors contributing to normal and abnormal sperm function leading to infertility. Many recent studies indicate that oxygen-derived free radicals induce damage to spermatozoa. The excessive generation of these reactive oxygen species (superoxide, hydroxyl, nitric oxide, peroxide, peroxynitrile) by immature and abnormal spermatozoa and by contaminating leukocytes associated with genitourinary tract inflammation have been identified with idiopathic male infertility. Mammalian spermatozoa membranes are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. This makes them very susceptible to oxygen-induced damage, which is mediated by lipid peroxidation. In a normal situation, the antioxidant mechanisms present in the reproductive tissues and their secretions are likely to quench these reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protect against oxidative damage to gonadal cells and mature spermatozoa. During chronic disease states, aging, toxin exposure, or genitourinary infection/inflammation, these cellular antioxidant mechanisms downplay and create a situation called oxidative stress. Thus, a balance between ROS generation and antioxidant capacity plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of disease state. Recent efforts towards the development of new reliable assays to evaluate this oxidative stress status have resulted in the establishment of ROS-TAC score. Such assessment of oxidative stress status (OSS) may help in designing newer modes of male factor infertility treatment by suitable antioxidants.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Role of reactive oxygen species in the pathophysiology of human reproduction
TL;DR: High levels of ROS are detrimental to the fertility potential both in natural and assisted conception states.
Journal ArticleDOI
Effect of oxidative stress on male reproduction.
TL;DR: This review highlights the mechanisms of ROS production, the physiological and pathophysiological roles of ROS in relation to the male reproductive system, and recent advances in diagnostic methods; it also explores the benefits of using antioxidants in a clinical setting.
Journal ArticleDOI
Role of sperm chromatin abnormalities and DNA damage in male infertility
Ashok Agarwal,Tamer M. Said +1 more
TL;DR: Screening for sperm DNA damage may provide useful information in cases of male idiopathic infertility and in those men pursuing assisted reproduction, and treatment should include methods for prevention of spermDNA damage.
Journal ArticleDOI
Antioxidant systems and oxidative stress in the testes.
R. John Aitken,Shaun D. Roman +1 more
TL;DR: The testes contain an elaborate array of antioxidant enzymes and free radical scavengers to ensure that the twin spermatogenic and steroidogenic functions of this organ are not impacted by oxidative stress.
Journal ArticleDOI
Clinical relevance of oxidative stress in male factor infertility: an update.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the need of ROS in normal sperm physiology, the mechanism of production of ROS and its pathophysiology in relation to male reproductive system and highlight the emerging concept of utilizing ROS as a method of contraception and the potential problems associated with it.