Topic
Semen
About: Semen is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 14571 publications have been published within this topic receiving 407739 citations. The topic is also known as: come & ejaculate.
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TL;DR: It was found that the characteristic increase in uterine expression of mRNA encoding GM- CSF and release of GM-CSF bioactivity from uterine epithelial cells into the luminal cavity seen after mating with intact or vasectomized males was no longer evident in matings with male mice from whom the seminal vesicles had been surgically removed.
Abstract: Mating evokes a characteristic pattern of molecular and cellular events in the rodent reproductive tract, including an infiltration of the endometrial stroma and uterine lumen with activated macrophages and granulocytes, which closely resembles a classic inflammatory response. Previous studies in mice indicate that these cellular changes are associated with, and are largely a consequence of, an upregulated synthesis and release of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from the uterine epithelium in response to seminal fluid. The aim of this study was to investigate further the origin and nature of the factors present in seminal fluid that trigger the GM-CSF response. It was found that the characteristic increase in uterine expression of mRNA encoding GM-CSF and release of GM-CSF bioactivity from uterine epithelial cells into the luminal cavity seen after mating with intact or vasectomized males was no longer evident in matings with male mice from whom the seminal vesicles had been surgically removed. The extent of inflammatory leucocyte infiltration into the endometrium was also reduced ; the most notable effect was a complete absence of the exocytosis of neutrophils into the luminal cavity normally seen after matings with intact or vasectomized males. Bioassay of the GM-CSF output of oestrous endometrial cells after culture with crude or Sephacryl S-400 chromatographed fractions of seminal vesicle fluid showed that the GM-CSF stimulating activity was predominantly associated with protein moieties in seminal vesicle fluid of approximately 650 000 M r and 100 000-400 000 M r . These data confirm the presence in seminal vesicle fluid of specific factors that initiate an inflammatory response in the uterus after mating through upregulating GM-CSF synthesis in the uterine epithelium. The significance of the cytokine release and cellular changes induced by seminal plasma for implantation of the conceptus and pregnancy outcome remain to be determined.
194 citations
TL;DR: On the basis of the findings of this study and those of other reports, zinc may contribute to fertility through its positive effect on spermatogenesis.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between concentrations of zinc in blood and seminal plasma and sperm quality among infertile and fertile men. One hundred seven male (infertile group) partners of couples who were undergoing investigation for infertility with no known cause for the infertility and 103 men (fertile group) whose wives were pregnant at the time of the study were recruited. The subjects' blood and seminal plasma concentration of zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Except for semen volume, all the other semen parameters for the infertile men were significantly lower than those for the fertile group. The geometric means of the seminal plasma zinc concentration were significantly lower in the infertile group compared with those in the fertile group; 183.6 mg/L (range, 63-499) versus 274.6 mg/L (range, 55-420). There were no significant differences in the geometric means of the blood zinc concentration between the 2 groups. Seminal plasma zinc concentration was significantly correlated with sperm density (r = 0.341, P < .0001), motility (r = 0.253, P < .0001), and viability (r = 0.286, P < .0001). On the basis of the findings of this study and those of other reports, zinc may contribute to fertility through its positive effect on spermatogenesis.
193 citations
TL;DR: Adverse effects of lead on sperm concentration and susceptibility to acid induced denaturation of sperm chromatin are unlikely at blood lead concentrations below 45 μg/dl, although effects of low level exposure to lead on other measures of testicular function cannot be ruled out.
Abstract: Objectives: To obtain knowledge on male reproductive toxicity of inorganic lead at current European exposure levels and to establish lowest adverse effect levels, if any. Methods: A cross sectional survey of the semen of 503 men employed by 10 companies was conducted in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Belgium. The mean blood lead concentration was 31.0 µg/dl (range 4.6‐64.5) in 362 workers exposed to lead and 4.4 µg/dl (range below the detection limit of 19.8) in 141 reference workers. Semen volume and sperm concentration were determined in a fresh semen sample according to an agreed protocol subject to quality assurance. The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was performed at a centralised laboratory. Extraneous determinants including centre, period of sexual abstinence, and age were taken into account in the statistical analysis. If appropriate, possible thresholds were examined by iterative threshold slope linear regression. Results: The median sperm concentration was reduced by 49% in men with blood lead concentration above 50 µg/dl. There was no indication of a linear trend of lower sperm concentration with increasing blood lead values, but threshold slope least square regression identified a blood lead concentration of 44 µg/dl (β=-0.037, F=4.35, p=0.038) as a likely threshold. Abnormal sperm chromatin structure was not related to blood lead concentration, but some indications of deterioration of sperm chromatin was found in men with the highest concentrations of lead within spermatozoa. Biological monitoring data did not indicate long term effects of lead on semen quantity or sperm chromatin. Conclusion: Adverse effects of lead on sperm concentration and susceptibility to acid induced denaturation of sperm chromatin are unlikely at blood lead concentrations below 45 µg/dl. Effects of low level exposure to lead on other measures of testicular function cannot be ruled out.
192 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated by performing extraction experiments with antibody-coated magnetic beads that, within this unselected population of patients, leucocytes were the major source of ROS in the low-density Percoll fraction.
Abstract: Summary. Peroxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed as one of the major causes of defective sperm function. In previous studies of the production of ROS in semen, the contribution of contaminating leucocytes was not assessed. We determined the levels of ROS in 60 semen samples from men attending our infertility clinic and demonstrated by performing extraction experiments with antibody-coated magnetic beads that, within this unselected population of patients, leucocytes were the major source of ROS in the low-density Percoll fraction. Of the sperm motion parameters examined using computerized semen analysis, beat-cross frequency was the only one significantly affected by the ROS in semen.
192 citations
TL;DR: The SCSA(®) is the pioneering assay for the detection of damaged sperm DNA and altered proteins in sperm nuclei via flow cytometry of acridine orange (AO) stained sperm, considered to be the most precise and repeatable test providing very unique, dual parameter data.
Abstract: Fresh or frozen semen/sperm thawed in a 37°C water bath and diluted to 1–2 × 106 sperm/ml with TNE buffer:
191 citations