Showing papers on "Semen published in 1995"
TL;DR: The volume of seminal fluid, the sperm concentration, and the percentages of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa in 1351 healthy fertile men from 1973 through 1992 were measured.
Abstract: Background Several studies have suggested a population-wide decline in the quality of semen over the past 50 years, but clear evidence of decreasing semen quality in recent decades is lacking. Methods From 1973 through 1992 we measured the volume of seminal fluid, the sperm concentration, and the percentages of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa in 1351 healthy fertile men. The data on the semen samples were collected at one sperm bank in Paris. The data in each calendar year were analyzed as a function of the year of donation, the age of each patient, the year of birth, and the duration of sexual abstinence before semen collection. Results There was no change in semen volume during the study period. The mean concentration of sperm decreased by 2.1 percent per year, from 89 ×106 per milliliter in 1973 to 60×106 per milliliter in 1992 (P<0.001). During the same period the percentages of motile and normal spermatozoa decreased by 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent per year, respectively (both P<0.001). ...
1,067 citations
TL;DR: It appears that all cases of obstructive azoospermia can now be successfully treated and the few barely motile spermatozoa thus obtained can be used for ICSI.
Abstract: In cases requiring microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) for congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD) or irreparable obstructive azoospermia, often no spermatozoa can be retrieved from the epididymis, or there may even be no epididymis present. We wished to see whether testicular biopsy with testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in such cases could yield spermatozoa that would result in successful fertilization and pregnancy (despite the absence of epididymal spermatozoa) using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In the same setting during the same 2-week period, 28 patients with CAVD or irreparable obstruction were treated; 16 consecutive fresh MESA-ICSI cycles and 12 cycles which required testicular biopsy with testicular sperm extraction (TESE-ICSI) were performed. Normal two-pronuclear fertilization rates were similar in both groups: 45% for epididymal spermatozoa and 46% for testicular biopsy-extracted spermatozoa. Cleavage rates were also similar (68% for epididymal and 65% for testicular spermatozoa). The ongoing pregnancy rates in this series were 50 and 43% respectively. We conclude that epididymal spermatozoa and testicular spermatozoa yield similar fertilization, cleavage and ongoing pregnancy rates using ICSI. When epididymal spermatozoa cannot be retrieved, a testicular biopsy can be performed and the few barely motile spermatozoa thus obtained can be used for ICSI. It appears that all cases of obstructive azoospermia can now be successfully treated.
451 citations
TL;DR: The disadvantages of the Percoll procedure could easily be overcome and the procedure was faster and yielded a six-fold greater recovery of motile spermatozoa than the swim-up method.
415 citations
TL;DR: There is ample evidence that WBC can affect sperm function and further studies are needed to define cofactors that increase or decrease the risk of sperm damage by WBC.
382 citations
TL;DR: Seminal plasma from infertile men has lower antioxidant levels than that of fertile men, particularly of patients whose semen have poor sperm motility, and the presence of reactive oxygen species activity in sperm of infertiles groups also is associated with lower levels of chain-breaking antioxidants in seminal plasma.
345 citations
TL;DR: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection can be used successfully to treat couples who have failed IVF or who have too few spermatozoa for conventional methods of in vitro insemination, and sperm parameters do not clearly affect the outcome of this technique.
342 citations
TL;DR: Investigations aim to clarify the relationship existing between levels of CMA3 stainability and the presence of endogenous nicks in the DNA of mature human spermatozoa and show a strong correlation between these two parameters.
Abstract: During spermiogenesis, mammalian chromatin undergoes replacement of nuclear histones by protamines, resulting in a DNA that is highly condensed in the mature sperm. We have previously demonstrated that a percentage of human spermatozoa exhibit 1) positivity to the guanine-cylosine-specific chromomycin A3 (CMA3) fluorochrome and 2) the presence of endogenous nicks in their DNA. In situ protamination of mature human sperm limits the percentage of sperm positive to CMA3 and exhibiting endogenous nicks. In this study, we report further investigations that aim to clarify the relationship existing between levels of CMA3 stainability and the presence of endogenous nicks in the DNA of mature human spermatozoa. Human spermatozoa from 25 different samples showed values of sensitivity to the CMA3 fluorochrome ranging from 13% to 75%. The same samples showed a percentage of sensitivity to endogenous nick translation ranging from 1% to 38%. A strong correlation (r = 0.86) was evident between these two parameters. Prior staining of sperm with the CMA3 fluorochrome drastically reduced sensitivity to nick translation. In contrast, previously nick-translated sperm stained with CMA3 showed very little difference from samples that had not been pretreated. The presence of nicked sperm in the ejaculate may indicate anomalies during spermiogenesis and be an indicator of male infertility.
310 citations
TL;DR: Using genetic analysis, a seminal fluid protein that is responsible for an initial elevation of egg laying in Drosophila melanogaster female is identified, Acp26Aa, which has structural features of a prohormone and contains a region with amino acid similarity to the egg-laying hormone of Aplysia.
Abstract: Mating triggers behavioral and physiological changes in the Drosophila melanogaster female, including an elevation of egg laying. Seminal fluid molecules from the male accessory gland are responsible for initial behavioral changes, but persistence of these changes requires stored sperm. Using genetic analysis, we have identified a seminal fluid protein that is responsible for an initial elevation of egg laying. This molecule, Acp26Aa, has structural features of a prohormone and contains a region with amino acid similarity to the egg-laying hormone of Aplysia. Acp26Aa is transferred to the female during mating, where it undergoes processing. Here we report the generation and analysis of mutants, including a null, in Acp26Aa. Females mated to male flies that lack Acp26Aa lay fewer eggs than do mates of normal males. This effect is apparent only on the first day after mating. The null mutation has no other detectable physiological or behavioral effects on the male or the mated female.
305 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the preparation of fresh or frozen-thawed epididymal and testicular sperm for intracytoplasmic single sperm injection and compare the fertilization, embryo quality, and pregnancy rates obtained after using these spermatozoa to the results when freshly ejaculated sperm was used for microinjection.
293 citations
TL;DR: Cervical insemination with frozen-thawed semen had a relatively limited application in sheep because of its low Lambing results after cervicalInsemination varied depending on the parameters examined in the freezing technology or at insemination, but were low in comparison with those obtainable with fresh diluted semen.
279 citations
TL;DR: During the past 20 years, there has been a decline in the concentration and motility of sperm and in the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa in fertile men that is independent of the age of the men.
Abstract: Background Several studies have suggested a population-wide decline in the quality of semen over the past 50 years, but clear evidence of decreasing semen quality in recent decades is lacking. Methods From 1973 through 1992 we measured the volume of seminal fluid, the sperm concentration, and the percentages of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa in 1351 healthy fertile men. The data on the semen samples were collected at one sperm bank in Paris. The data in each calendar year were analyzed as a function of the year of donation, the age of each patient, the year of birth, and the duration of sexual abstinence before semen collection. Results There was no change in semen volume during the study period. The mean concentration of sperm decreased by 2.1 percent per year, from 89 ×106 per milliliter in 1973 to 60×106 per milliliter in 1992 (P<0.001). During the same period the percentages of motile and normal spermatozoa decreased by 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent per year, respectively (both P<0.001). ...
TL;DR: At present satisfactory and reliable lambing results are only obtainable by using intrauterine insemination by laparoscopy, and the most effective method is to increase the depth of deposition of frozen-thawed semen into the cervical canal.
TL;DR: Low concentrations of leukocytes are a common feature of the human ejaculate and can impair sperm function, particularly in the absence of seminal plasma, which has implications for the understanding of the importance ofLeukocytospermia in defining the fertility of human spermatozoa in vivo and in vitro.
Abstract: The addition of luminol to unprocessed semen samples resulted in the generation of chemiluminescent signals, the intensity of which was highly correlated with the level of leukocyte contamination. Despite the spontaneous oxidant-generating capacity of seminal leukocytes, no correlations were observed between leukocyte contamination and the fertility status of the subjects or any aspect of the semen profile, including the motility of the spermatozoa or their performance in a hyaluronate penetration assay. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and leukocyte contamination were also correlated in washed sperm suspensions prepared either by repeated centrifugation or on discontinuous Percoll gradients. However, in such sperm suspensions, the spontaneous generation of oxidants by contaminating leukocytes (> 2 x 10(4) leukocytes/ml) was invariably associated with a decreased capacity for movement. Moreover, causative associations between leukocyte contamination, reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation and impaired sperm motility were revealed by experiments involving the selective addition or removal of activated leukocytes. From these observations we can conclude that low concentrations of leukocytes are a common feature of the human ejaculate and can impair sperm function, particularly in the absence of seminal plasma. These findings have implications for our understanding of the importance of leukocytospermia in defining the fertility of human spermatozoa in vivo and in vitro.
TL;DR: Evaluated the direct effects of NO, chemically derived from S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and sodium nitroprusside on the motility and viability of human spermatozoa and tested whether inhibition of NO synthesis prevents sperm motilities and viability by incubating washed total cells present in the semen with L-NAME, a NO synthesis inhibitor.
Abstract: Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) is an important functional mediator in several physiological systems, including the reproductive system. However, when generated in excessive amounts for long periods, mainly during immunological reactions, NO is cytotoxic and cytostatic for invading microbes, as well as for the cells generating it and the tissues present around it. Since infertility associated with urogenital tract infection in males and females is also accompanied by reduced sperm motility and viability, it is possible that reduced fertility in these patients is due to NO-induced sperm toxicity. We therefore evaluated the direct effects of NO, chemically derived from S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP, 0.012-0.6 mM) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 0.25-2.5 mM), on the motility and viability of human spermatozoa. Furthermore, we tested whether inhibition of NO synthesis prevents sperm motility and viability by incubating washed total cells present in the semen (spermatozoa, round cells) with N-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), a NO synthesis inhibitor. Treatment of purified spermatozoa with SNAP or SNP decreased forward progressive sperm motility and straight line velocity, and also increased the percentage of immotile spermatozoa in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the percentage of immotile spermatozoa positively correlated with the percentage of dead spermatozoa. In contrast to freshly prepared SNAP, SNAP preincubated for 48 h had no effect on the motility and viability of the spermatozoa. Furthermore, as compared to untreated controls, a significantly higher percentage of forward progressive sperm motility as well as viability (P < 0.05) was maintained in washed semen incubated with L-NAME (0.15 mM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TL;DR: Results suggest that PRRSV RNA can be detected by PCR in boar serum and semen, and may persist for variable periods of time.
Abstract: Four seronegative adult boars were intranasally inoculated with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolate VR-2332. Serum and semen were collected 2-3 times weekly for over 100 days postinoculation (DPI). Serum samples were assayed for PRRSV by virus isolation (VI) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and screened for antibodies to PRRSV using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and virus neutralization (VN) tests. Semen was assayed for PRRSV RNA by PCR. Virus and viral RNA was detected in the serum of all boars within 1 DPI by Vi and/or PCR. However, VI results indicated that viremia was transient and occurred from 1 to 9 DPI. Viral RNA was detected in serum from 1 to 31 DPI. In the acute stage of the infection, PRRSV RNA was detected in serum by PCR prior to the presence of viral RNA in semen. The PRRSV RNA was detected in semen as early as 3 DPI and persisted for 25 DPI in 2 of the boars and 56 and 92 DPI in the remaining 2 boars. Detection of PRRSV RNA in semen occurred 2-8 and 28-35 days prior to the detection of antibodies by IFA and VN, respectively. PRRSV was isolated from the bulbourethral gland of the boar that shed viral RNA in semen for 92 DPI. These results suggest that PRRSV RNA can be detected by PCR in boar serum and semen, and may persist for variable periods of time. Viremia and the serologic status of the boar are not adequate indicators of when PRRSV or PRRSV RNA is being shed in the semen. Preliminary findings also indicated that neither shipping stress nor reinoculation with homologous PRRSV resulted in viremia or viral RNA shedding in semen.
TL;DR: A reliable and sensitive PCR assay to directly detect PRRSV in boar semen was developed and showed good correlation with the swine bioassay, and both methods were superior to virus isolation.
Abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes a devastating disease in swine. The presence and transmission of PRRSV by boar semen has been demonstrated by using a swine bioassay. In this assay, 4- to 8-week-old pigs were inoculated intraperitoneally with semen from PRRSV-infected boars. Seroconversion of these piglets indicated the presence of PRRSV in semen. Seroconversion in gilts has also been demonstrated following artificial insemination with semen from PRRSV-infected boars. These methods of detecting PRRSV in boar semen are time-consuming, laborious, and expensive. The objective of this study was to develop a reliable and sensitive PCR assay to directly detect PRRSV in boar semen. Primers from open reading frames 1b and 7 of the PRRSV genome were used in nested PCRs. Virus was detected at concentrations as low as 10 infectious virions per ml in PRRSV-spiked semen. Specificity was confirmed by using a nested PCR and a 32P-labeled oligonucleotide probe. The primers did not react with related arteriviruses or other swine viruses. The PCR assay showed good correlation with the swine bioassay, and both methods were superior to virus isolation. To consistently identify PRRSV in boar semen, the cell fraction was separated by centrifugation at 600 x g for 20 min, a lysis buffer without a reducing agent (2-mercaptoethanol) was used, and nondiluted and 1:20-diluted cell fractions were evaluated by PCR. PRRSV was not reliably detected in the seminal plasma fraction of boar semen.
TL;DR: Placental protein 14 produced a potent, fast, and dose-dependent inhibition of binding of human spermatozoa to the human ZP without affecting other prefertilization events (i.e., hyperactivated motility or AR); the detrimental effect on sperm-zona interaction seems to be specific for this endometrial epithelial protein.
TL;DR: The results reveal a negative correlation between sperm motility and the proportion of 4977-bp-deleted mtDNA and suggest that mtDNA mutations may play an important role in some pathophysiological conditions in human spermatozoa.
Abstract: The accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations has been suggested to be an important contributor to human aging and degenerative diseases. In previous studies, we found an age-dependent increase of mtDNA mutations in various human tissues. Sperm motility is one of the determinants of male fertility. The possible relationship between mtDNA deletions and diminished fertility and motility of sperm was explored in the present study. We examined accumulation of the 4977-bp mtDNA deletion in spermatozoa obtained from patients with infertility or subfertility and compared these values with those of normal individuals. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, we determined the frequency of occurrence and the proportion of mtDNA with the 4977-bp deletion in human spermatozoa with different motilities. Human spermatozoa were separated by self-migration in Percoll gradients into five fractions with different motility scores. The highest frequency of occurrence of the 4977-bp mtDNA deletion was found in sperm in the fraction with the lowest motility. The results revealed a negative correlation between sperm motility and the proportion of 4977-bp-deleted mtDNA. Furthermore, we found a significantly higher incidence of the 4977-bp mtDNA mutation in patients with asthenospermia, oligospermia, and primary infertility compared to normal individuals. These findings suggest that mtDNA mutations may play an important role in some pathophysiological conditions in human spermatozoa.
TL;DR: Morphological sperm abnormalities due to secretory dysfunction of the Leydig and Sertoli cells may be the cause of impaired sperm fertilizing capacity in smokers.
TL;DR: Egg-yolk Tris extender seems to be superior to the other extenders tested, to preserve dog semen at 4 °C, although differences were not significant for all the parameters.
TL;DR: The results demonstrated that epididymal sperm undergo the acrosome reaction only in the presence of BSP proteins, and indicate that B SP proteins are regulatory factors of capacitation.
Abstract: Bovine seminal plasma (BSP) contains four similar acidic proteins, previously designated as BSP-AI, BSP-A2, BSP-A3, and BSP30-kDa. These proteins are secreted by the seminal vesicles and coat the surface of the spermatozoa after ejaculation. The binding site of BSP proteins on the sperm surface has been identified as choline phospholipids on the plasma membrane. This study was undertaken to determine whether BSP proteins modulate capacitation of bovine spermatozoa induced by heparin. Bovine epididymal spermatozoa were washed and incubated in buffer containing BSP proteins and then washed and incubated with heparin. The percentage of capacitated spermatozoa was determined under the microscope after the acrosome reaction has been initiated with the addition of lysophosphatidylcholine. The results demonstrated that epididymal sperm undergo the acrosome reaction only in the presence of BSP proteins. This effect was concentration-dependent and reached a maximum level of a 3-5-fold increase at 20-40 g/ml BSP protein concentrations. In contrast, ribonuclease (purified from bovine seminal fluid) or seminal fluid proteins depleted of BSP proteins (by sequential absorption of BSP proteins on gelatin-Agarose and DEAE-Sephadex columns) showed no significant potentiating activity. The purified BSP proteins were more active than crude alcohol precipitates of bovine seminal plasma. These results indicate that BSP proteins are regulatory factors of capacitation.
TL;DR: This is the first report of a correlation between the anti-oxidant ascorbic acid in seminal plasma and ROS generation in human semen, and the reduced ascorBic acid/urate concentrations found in semen of normozoospermic patients might be indicative of a reduced anti-oxide protection.
Abstract: Peroxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed as one of the major causes of defective sperm function. The ROS detected in semen reflect an imbalance between ROS generation and degradation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the oxidative and anti-oxidative potential in semen of infertile patients and healthy donors. Specimens were obtained from 28 patients and 18 healthy donors (controls). A conventional spermiogram, measurement of luminol-chemiluminescence (CL) in washed semen, and high performance liquid chromatography determination of ascorbic acid and urate concentrations in seminal plasma were performed. Oligozoospermic patients exhibited higher CL signals than controls (P < 0.001). Normozoospermic patients showed lower ascorbic acid (mean +/- SE: 491 +/- 46 microM, P < 0.04) and urate concentrations (320 +/- 22 microM, P < 0.009) than controls (612 +/- 35 and 426 +/- 26 microM respectively). Seminal plasma ascorbic acid was negatively correlated with the CL signals (P < 0.0006) and positively correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology (P < 0.006). This is the first report of a correlation between the anti-oxidant ascorbic acid in seminal plasma and ROS generation in human semen. Furthermore, the reduced ascorbic acid/urate concentrations found in semen of normozoospermic patients might be indicative of a reduced anti-oxidative protection.
TL;DR: The method of simultaneous three-chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was developed using repetitive DNA sequence probes for chromosomes 8, X and Y and applied to semen of 14 men from two healthy groups who differed in their average ages, providing preliminary finding of a paternal age effect on sperm aneuploidy in human males.
Abstract: The method of simultaneous three-chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was developed using repetitive DNA sequence probes for chromosomes 8, X and Y and applied to semen of 14 men from two healthy groups who differed in their average ages (46.8 +/- 3.1 years, n = 4 v. 28.9 +/- 5.0 years, n = 10). The frequencies of disomic sperm determined by FISH compared well with frequencies obtained using the hamster-egg technique for human-sperm cytogenetics and with the frequencies of disomic and diploid sperm reported in previous FISH studies in this laboratory. The two groups of men did not differ in their baseline frequencies of sperm disomic for chromosome 8 (approximately 6.5 per 10(4) sperm), sperm with XY8 aneuploidy (approximately 9.5 per 10(4) sperm), or sperm with autodiploidy XX88 or YY88 (approximately 2 per 10(4) sperm). However, the older group had statistically higher frequencies of sperm carrying sex chromosomal disomy than the younger group (5.1 v. 2.2 per 10(4) sperm for XX8; 5.9 v. 2.0 per 10(4) sperm for YY8; P < 0.005). A recent report from this laboratory of sex-chromosomal aneuploidy in sperm of aged mice provides inter-species corroborating evidence for this preliminary finding of a paternal age effect on sperm aneuploidy in human males.
TL;DR: The time of centrifugation is more important than g-force for inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in semen, and is recommended in the preparation of sperm for assisted reproductive techniques.
TL;DR: A set of criteria have been identified that accurately predict the fertilizing potential of human sperm suspensions in vitro and that place particular emphasis on sperm morphology and the degree of leukocyte contamination.
TL;DR: The modified method of the two-step differential extraction procedure was found to be suitable for separating sperm DNA and vaginal epithelial cell DNA from the mixed stains and MCT118(D1S80), ApoB VNTR and HLADQ alpha types of sperm DNA were detected and were confirmed by matching with corresponding male blood DNA.
TL;DR: In seven patients who did not become pregnant following microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, it would appear mandatory to cryopreserve supernumerary spermatozoa during a MESA in order to avoid subsequent further scrotal surgery.
Abstract: In seven patients who did not become pregnant following microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a subsequent ICSI was performed using previously cryopreserved super-numerary epididymal spermatozoa without re-operating on the husband. During the original MESA procedure a mean sperm concentration of 12.3 x 10(6)/ml was achieved. The supernumerary spermatozoa were cryopreserved for later use. After thawing frozen epididymal spermatozoa a mean concentration of 1.9 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml was obtained in straws containing a total volume of sperm suspension of 250 microliters. From 68 intact oocytes injected with frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa, a two pronuclear fertilization rate of 45% and a cleavage rate of 82% were obtained. A total of 17 embryos were replaced in the seven patients, resulting in two ongoing singleton pregnancies and one twin delivery. Six embryos were cryopreserved. In conclusion, it would appear mandatory to cryopreserve supernumerary spermatozoa during a MESA in order to avoid subsequent further scrotal surgery.
TL;DR: ICSI should be the primary choice for patients who have high numbers of antisperm antibodies present in their semen, and fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy rates after ICSI are not influenced significantly by the proportion of antis sperm antibody-bound spermatozoa, nor by the dominant type of antibodies present.
Abstract: Antisperm antibodies present in the semen can be a primary cause of infertility. If the proportion of spermatozoa carrying antisperm antibodies is very high, then usually a poor result ensues in standard in-vitro fertilization. We therefore employed intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 55 cycles (37 patients) where the proportion of antisperm antibody-bound spermatozoa was 80% or higher, as determined by the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test. The type and location of antisperm antibodies were determined by the immunobead test in 30 of the 37 patients. The mean normal fertilization rate was 75.7% in these 55 cycles, which was significantly higher than the fertilization rate in another 1767 ICSI cycles (69.2%) performed over the same period and where MAR-negative semen (the level of antisperm antibodies was < 80%) was used for microinjection. Embryonic development was comparable, but a higher proportion of poor-quality embryos was obtained with MAR-positive than with MAR-negative semen samples. Out of the 55 patients, 53 had embryos replaced (96.4%) and a fetal sac was detected by ultrasonography in 14 patients (26.4%). The data indicate that fertilization, embryo development and pregnancy rates after ICSI are not influenced significantly by the proportion of antisperm antibody-bound spermatozoa, nor by the dominant type of antibodies present, nor by the location of the antisperm antibody on the spermatozoa. The conclusion of this study is that ICSI should be the primary choice for patients who have high numbers of antisperm antibodies present in their semen.
TL;DR: It is indicated that vitamin C is important for male fish reproduction; the dietary requirement for seminal plasma ascorbic acid saturation exceeds that for optimum growth.
Abstract: High concentrations of ascorbic acid occur in scurvy-prone, teleost fish seminal plasma. We quantified seasonal relationships between 1) dietary level of vitamin C and level of seminal plasma ascorbic acid, and 2) seminal plasma ascorbic acid concentration and sperm quality, in rainbow trout (Oncorhyncbus mykiss). We maintained six groups of 2-yr-old rainbow trout on diets supplemented with 0, 30, 110, 220, 440, and 870 ppm ascorbyl monophosphate beginning in May 1992. Sperm were produced during the end of October 1992 through April 1993; we collected milt 13 times from 3-8 fish per treatment. We quantified ascorbic acid concentration in seminal plasma, and sperm concentration, motility, and weight. Seminal plasma ascorbic acid concentrations were affected directly by the ascorbyl monophosphate level in the diet. Seminal plasma ascorbic acid concentrations also were affected by season. Ascorbic acid deficiency did not influence semen quality (sperm concentration and motility) at the beginning of the spawning season. However, sperm concentration and motility in a group fed an ascorbic acid-free diet declined during the period of study. Ascorbic acid deficiency reduced both sperm concentration and motility, and thus fertility, of rainbow trout. These results indicate that vitamin C is important for male fish reproduction; the dietary requirement for seminal plasma ascorbic acid saturation exceeds that for optimum growth.
01 Jul 1995-Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B-pesticides Food Contaminants and Agricultural Wastes
TL;DR: Pesticide treatment resulted in a decline in body weight, libido, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, semen initial fructose and semen osmolality, and the hazardous effect of these pesticides on semen quality continued during the recovery period, and was dose-dependent.
Abstract: The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of chronic treatment with two sublethal doses of Carbofuran (carbamate insecticide) and Glyphosate (organophosphorus herbicide) on body weight and semen characteristics in mature male New Zealand white rabbits. Pesticide treatment resulted in a decline in body weight, libido, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, semen initial fructose and semen osmolality. This was accompanied with increases in the abnormal and dead sperm and semen methylene blue reduction time. The hazardous effect of these pesticides on semen quality continued during the recovery period, and was dose-dependent. These effects on sperm quality may be due to the direct cytotoxic effects of these pesticides on spermatogenesis and/or indirectly via hypothalami-pituitary-testis axis which control the reproductive efficiency.