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Showing papers on "Semen analysis published in 2003"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There were dose-response relations for mono-butylphthalate and monobenzyl phthalate with one or more semen parameters, and suggestive evidence for monomethyl phhalate with sperm morphology, and the lack of a relation for other phthalates may indicate a difference in spermatotoxicity amongphthalates.
Abstract: Background. There is scientific and public concern about commonly used chemicals, including phthalates, that are associated with reproductive toxicity in laboratory animals and are hormonally active. People are exposed to phthalates through diet, consumer products and medical devices. The present study explored whether environmental levels of phthalates are associated with altered semen quality in humans. Methods. We recruited 168 men who were part of subfertile couples and who presented to the Massachusetts General Hospital andrology laboratory for semen analysis between January 2000 and April 2001. Semen parameters were dichotomized based on 1999 World Health Organization reference values for sperm concentration (20 million/ml) and motility (50% motile), as well as Tygerberg Strict criteria for morphology (4% normal). The comparison group was men for whom these semen parameters were all above the reference values. In urine, eight phthalate metabolites were measured with high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Specific gravity-adjusted phthalate metabolite levels were categorized into tertiles. Results. There was a dose-response relation between tertiles of mono-butyl phthalate and sperm motility (odds ratio per tertile 1.0, 1.8, 3.0; P-value for trend 0.02) and sperm concentration (1.0, 1.4, 3.3; P-value for trend 0.07). In addition, there was a dose-response relation between tertiles of monobenzyl phthalate and sperm concentration (1.0, 1.4, 5.5; P-value for trend 0.02). Conclusions. There were dose-response relations for monobutyl phthalate and monobenzyl phthalate with one or more semen parameters, and suggestive evidence for monomethyl phthalate with sperm morphology. The lack of a relation for other phthalates may indicate a difference in spermatotoxicity among phthalates. (EPIDEMIOLOGY 2003;14:269 –277)

416 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study clearly demonstrates an increase in sperm double-stranded DNA breaks with age and suggests for the first time an age-related decrease in human sperm apoptosis, indicating deterioration of healthy sperm cell selection process with age.

405 citations


01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of increased sperm DNA damage in relation to seminal oxidative stress in men with idiopathic and male factor infertility were examined in a tertiary care academic institution.
Abstract: Objective: To examine the effects of increased sperm DNA damage in relation to seminal oxidative stress in men with idiopathic and male factor infertility. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Infertility clinic at a tertiary care academic institution. Patient(s): Ninety-two infertile men with normal female partners. Sixteen fertile donors served as the control group. Intervention(s): Standard semen analysis and assessment of levels of seminal oxidative stress. Assisted reproductive techniques in 33 of the 92 patients (IUI In = 19], IVF [n = 10], and intracytoplasmic sperm injection [n = 4]). Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm DNA damage by sperm chromatin structure assay. Results were expressed as DNA fragmentation index. Result(s): Patients were classified as having either idiopathic (n = 23) or male factor infertility (n = 69). Patients with idiopathic and male factor infertility had significantly higher DNA fragmentation index and oxidative stress compared with the case of fertile donors. A clinical pregnancy was achieved in 9 (27%) of 33 patients with assisted reproductive techniques. Significantly higher DNA fragmentation index and oxidative stress were found in men who failed to initiate a pregnancy after assisted reproductive techniques (n = 24), compared with the cases of those who succeeded and of the fertile donors. DNA fragmentation index was correlated positively with oxidative stress (r = 0.27), and negatively with fertilization (r = -0.70) and embryo quality (r = -0.70). Conclusion(s): Sperm DNA damage is significantly increased in men with idiopathic and male factor infertility and in men who failed to initiate a pregnancy after assisted reproductive techniques. Such an increase may be related to high levels of seminal oxidative stress.

396 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of increased sperm DNA damage in relation to seminal oxidative stress in men with idiopathic and male factor infertility were examined in a tertiary care academic institution.

393 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The one-step eosin-nigrosin staining technique gave valid results when evaluated with sperm motility data obtained according to World Health Organization standard (1992, 1999) and should be recommended in the basic semen analysis when sperm vitality is to be assessed.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The one-step eosin-nigrosin staining technique for assessment of sperm vitality was developed in the 1950s for various mammalian species. Although commonly used on human sperm in semen, a validation for this use has not previously been published. METHODS: The technique was evaluated on 1235 consecutive semen samples. RESULTS: The one-step eosin-nigrosin staining technique gave valid results when evaluated with sperm motility data obtained according to World Health Organization standard (1992, 1999). The mean for the sums of stained (i.e. supposedly dead) and motile sperm using the one-step eosin-nigrosin technique was 91% (SD 6 10%). The distribution of sums for percentage stained and percentage motile sperm was similar, regardless of whether the samples had many or few dead sperm. CONCLUSIONS: Standardization and quality control of basic semen analysis demands robust, reliable and simple techniques that are easy to learn, and easy to continue to perform in the same way. The one-step eosin-nigrosin technique does not need negative phase contrast optics but can be run with ordinary bright-field microscopy. Since it also includes fewer methodological steps to control, it seems preferable in terms of standardization and quality control management. It should therefore be recommended in the basic semen analysis when sperm vitality is to be assessed.

319 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Measuring MMP in spermatozoa provides useful information about a man's fertility potential and increased ROS production by spermatozosa is associated with a decreased MMP.

267 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Human sperm DNA fragmentation was investigated by means of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ejaculate and in the spermatozoa themselves, revealing markedly stronger correlations between sperm functions and the percentage of ROS-producing spermatozosa.
Abstract: Despite the ever-increasing knowledge of the fertilization process, there is still a need for better understanding of the causes of sperm DNA fragmentation and its impact on fertilization and pregnancy. For this reason, human sperm DNA fragmentation was investigated by means of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ejaculate and in the spermatozoa themselves. These data were correlated with fertilization and pregnancy data from IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) patients. Sperm DNA fragmentation did not correlate with fertilization rate, but there was a significantly reduced pregnancy rate in IVF patients inseminated with TUNEL-positive spermatozoa. ICSI patients exhibited the same tendency. This implies that spermatozoa with damaged DNA are able to fertilize an oocyte, but at the time the paternal genome is switched on, further development stops. The determination of ROS in the ejaculate and the percentage of ROS-producing spermatozoa revealed markedly stronger correlations between sperm functions (i.e. motility) and the percentage of ROS-producing spermatozoa. The influence of seminal leukocytes, known to produce large amounts of oxidants, on sperm DNA fragmentation should not be neglected.

259 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Flow-cytometric analysis of sperm with appropriate probes offers considerable promise for the prediction of stallion fertility because it allows the objective, rapid and simultaneous analysis of a number of properties in a large number of sperm.
Abstract: Pregnancy rates in managed horse populations depend on the innate fertility of the mares and stallions involved and on the quality of breeding management. Of course, because a single stallion usually mates many mares, stallion fertility is a critical factor in the overall success of a breeding program. Unfortunately, accurate evaluation of stallion fertility per se requires a large number of normal mares to be mated and is necessarily retrospective. Rather, the ideal is to predict fertility in advance of the stallion's breeding career, and this is currently attempted by way of a thorough physical examination and a routine analysis of semen quality. However, while such a 'breeding soundness examination' identifies stallions that clearly lack the capacity for adequate fertility, it is of limited use for predicting the level of fertility and fails to identify some seriously sub-fertile animals. Similarly, while various sperm function tests (e.g., sperm head morphometry, the hypoosmotic swelling test, glass wool-sephadex filtration, progesterone receptor exposure) have been shown to correlate fairly well with fertility in the field, most examine only a single or a narrow range of the attributes that a sperm must possess if it is to fertilize an oocyte in vivo, and are thus more useful for identifying specific causes of sub-fertility than for predicting the level of fertility. On the other hand, combining the results of the various sperm function tests does improve the reliability of fertility estimation and current research is therefore concentrated on identifying a range of tests that covers as many important sperm attributes as possible but that can be performed rapidly and cheaply. In this respect, flow-cytometry has proven to be an ideal tool because it allows the objective, rapid and simultaneous analysis of a number of properties in a large number of sperm. Moreover, stains are available for an increasing range of sperm characteristics including viability, capacitation and acrosome status, mitochondrial activity and chromatin integrity. Flow-cytometric analysis of sperm with appropriate probes thus offers considerable promise for the prediction of stallion fertility.

214 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The HOST was the only plasmalemma evaluation method that significantly contributed to conventional sperm quality tests in predicting in vitro fertilization rate, indicating that the test could be incorporated to the routine of semen analysis.

172 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study results showed that conventional reference values for seminal parameters have little diagnostic value, though seminal parameters can be useful for assessing differences in an individual's serial results, in particular of progressive motility, morphology and vitality.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: A study was undertaken to assess the components of biological variation of seminal parameters in healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty donor candidates were included in a 10-week follow-up study. Within- and between-subject biological variation, indices of individuality and heterogeneity, coefficient of reliability, critical differences, analytical goals and the lowest value observed with a <5% probability of having a true value less than the World Health Organization (1999) reference value were estimated for the following seminal parameters: concentration, total motility (WHO grades a + b + c), progressive motility (grades a + b), rapid progressive motility (grade a), sperm morphology and vitality. All analysis was performed by a single technician according to WHO 1999 guidelines for routine semen analysis. Analytical variation was assessed on different types of quality control material (frozen straws, sperm suspension, videotape, and slides) and at different (low, medium, high) quality levels. RESULTS: The analytical variation observed depended on the quality control material used and the level of semen quality. Concentration was the semen parameter with highest within- and between-subject variation, and vitality the lowest. Indices of individuality were all <0.7, and coefficients of reliability were high (0.68-0.84). The critical difference for sequential values significant at P < 0.05 for vitality, progressive motility and morphology (34.4, 49.2 and 58.0% respectively) were lower than for concentration (77.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed that conventional reference values for seminal parameters have little diagnostic value because of their marked individuality, though seminal parameters can be useful for assessing differences in an individual's serial results, in particular of progressive motility, morphology and vitality.

158 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Seasonal variations were found in sperm concentration and morphology, with higher sperm concentrations inWinter than in fall, and a greater percentage of sperm with normal morphology in winter than in spring and summer.
Abstract: Although semen quality has been discussed extensively with regard to age and season in the andrology literature, the results vary and firm conclusions are still outstanding. To investigate seasonal and age-related variations in human semen parameters, we analyzed data that were collected from an andrology clinic population. We performed a retrospective review of 551 semen analysis records collected from 1989 to 2000 from the Vincent Memorial Andrology Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. Semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, total motile sperm, and morphology significantly decreased as age increased. In addition, as age increased, the percentage of sperm with tail defects increased. Sperm concentration was significantly higher in winter (mean 157.9 million/mL) than in fall (mean 119.1 million/mL) (P <.05). The mean percentage of sperm with normal morphology was significantly higher in winter (9.2%) than in summer and spring (7.0% and 7.5%, respectively; P <.05). The mean percentage of sperm with head defects was significantly higher in fall and summer (74.0% and 72.3%, respectively) than in winter (68.6%; P <.05). Seasonal variations were found in sperm concentration and morphology, with higher sperm concentrations in winter than in fall, and a greater percentage of sperm with normal morphology in winter than in spring and summer. Sperm concentration was lowest in the fall, whereas the percentage of sperm with normal morphology was lowest in summer. Semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility, total motile sperm, and morphology decreased as age increased.

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: The need for improved sperm biomarkers of adverse reproductive effects is discussed and it is concluded that sensitive, reliable, and practical methods are needed.
Abstract: The First International Conference on Male-Mediated Developmental Toxicity, held in September 1992, reported that the spermatozoon can bring genetic damage into the oocyte at fertilization and thereby contribute to subsequent abnormal pregnancy outcomes (Olshan and Mattison, 1994). At that time, laboratory tests for genetic defects in sperm were at an early stage of development and were relatively untested in the clinic and the field. A breakout group at that meeting discussed the need for improved sperm biomarkers of adverse reproductive effects and concluded that sensitive, reliable, and practical methods

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Diluting dog semen samples to 50 x 10(6) ml(-1) with physiological saline solution and scanning 30 frames at a frame rate of 60 frames/s are the set-up parameters proposed to obtain objective and standardized canine semen motility results using the HTR Ceros 12.1.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the literature confirmed that sperm morphology using strict criteria and the inseminating motile sperm count after sperm preparation are the two most important sperm parameters to assess the real impact of semen quality on IUI outcome.
Abstract: There is good evidence in literature that intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the best first line treatment and most cost-effective procedure for moderate male factor subfertility. It seems very difficult to identify individual semen parameters predicting the likelihood of pregnancy after IUI. This can be explained by a lack of standardization of semen analysis, but many other methodological variables may also influence IUI success rates such as the patient selection, type of ovarian stimulation and number of inseminations per cycle. A review of the literature confirmed that sperm morphology using strict criteria and the inseminating motile sperm count (IMC) after sperm preparation are the two most important sperm parameters to assess the real impact of semen quality on IUI outcome. A universal threshold level above which IUI can be performed with acceptable pregnancy rates has not been determined yet, although IUI success seems to be impaired with <5% normal spermatozoa and an IMC of <1 x 10(6). Until now, no method of sperm preparation has been shown to be superior with regard to pregnancy rate after IUI. Whether supplementation of culture media with substances such as antioxidants and platelet activating factor may improve the results remains the subject of further research.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Leukospermia is a poor marker for either bacteriospermia or impaired semen quality, and Streptococcus viridans and Enterococcus faecalis are associated with poorer semen quality and may warrant treatment.

Journal ArticleDOI
Ramadan A Saleh1, G. Ranga, Rupesh Raina1, David R. Nelson1, Ashok Agarwal1 
TL;DR: It is indicated that some men may experience sexual dysfunction of a psychogenic nature in response to the diagnosis of infertility, and penis vibratory stimulation to help men who failed to collect semen on their second or subsequent appointments.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In spite of the high incidence of mycoplasmas, not enough information was available regarding the influence of these microorganisms on the sperm quality and their relationship with the leukocyte count, and screening of U. urealyticum and M. hominis for routine semen analysis is not clinically relevant.
Abstract: Aim: To investigate the clinical value of the screening of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in routine semen analysis. Ma

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Both SQ and RQ scores provide meaningful information on the quality of semen specimens for the clinician and the correlation among semen characteristics allows for the efficient combining of semen measures.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether semen characteristics can be reduced to 2 semen quality (SQ) scores and whether these new scores can help the clinician in assessing the reproductive outcome. A cross-sectional sample of 250 patients seeking infertility treatment were analyzed for semen characteristics. In addition, 177 male-factor patients (prostatitis with infection, n = 40; varicocele, n = 77; varicocele with infections, n = 11; and vasectomy reversal, n = 43) were also assessed. Sperm motion kinetics were measured by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) (concentration, percent motility, curvilinear velocity [VCL], straight-line velocity [VSL], average path velocity [VAP], linearity [LIN], and amplitude of lateral head displacement [ALH]). Sperm morphology was assessed by both World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and Tygerberg strict criteria. The principal component analysis model was used to construct an SQ score and a relative semen quality (RQ) score. A separate set of 25 normal donors was included as controls to determine normal ranges of the semen scores. Among the patient samples, SQ and RQ scores (median and 25% and 75% interquartile values) were 89.9, 25.1, and 130.4 and 106.1, 45.2, and 165.9, respectively. The SQ score for the varicocele and varicocele with infection groups was comparable (78.6 +/- 17.4 and 84.8 +/- 20.6) but significantly different from the control (100 +/- 10, P <.001 and.03). Vasectomy reversal patients had an SQ score of 78.2 plus or minus 16.8 that was significantly lower than controls (P <.001). The correlation among semen characteristics allows for the efficient combining of semen measures. The composite scores can summarize overall SQ and quantity. Both SQ and RQ scores provide meaningful information on the quality of semen specimens for the clinician.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Patients with DZPIAR have a low or zero fertilization rate with standard IVF but high fertilization and pregnancy rates with ICSI and up to 29% of patients with unexplained infertility with normal semen analysis may have this condition.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The DNA methylation level in human spermatozoa could be a new approach to evaluating the ability of spermatoozoa to fertilize and lead to normal embryo development.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Observations made in this study reiterates that high intratesticular temperature causes partial or complete spermatogenic arrest and may lead to increased production of morphologically abnormal sperm with impaired motility and this inverse relationship of sperm function with elevated temperature has implications in clinical medicine.
Abstract: Sperm is produced by a highly complex and poorly understood differentiation process known as spermatogenesis. Occupational exposure to high temperatures adversely affect testicular function, causing partial or complete spermatogenic arrest. Dyers, cooks, blast furnace workers, and men with varicocele are known to develop testicular hyperthermia, which leads to oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) and azoospermia. Semen analysis of 122 infertile men (and 25 fertile controls), following the WHO guidelines, 1999, showed azoospermia in 106 men and oligozoospermia in 16 men. Twenty azoospermic and fourteen oligozoospermic men had high testiculoepididymal temperatures, either due to occupational exposure to high temperature or varicocele. All the 14 oligozoospermic men showed a very high percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology, impaired motility and they were subclassified as OAT group. Observations made in this study reiterates that high intratesticular temperature causes partial or complete spermatogenic arrest and may lead to increased production of morphologically abnormal sperm with impaired motility. This inverse relationship of sperm function with elevated temperature has implications in clinical medicine both in understanding pathological states and for therapeutic measures.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The automated semen measures of sperm morphometry (%Z) and velocity (VSL) are related to pregnancy rates in subfertile couples and should assist clinicians in counselling sub fertile patients about their prognosis for a natural pregnancy.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Standard semen analysis has low objectivity and reproducibility and is not closely related to fertility. We assess the prognostic value of automated measurements of sperm motility and morphology. METHODS: During 1997‐1999, 1191 infertile couples with no known absolute barrier to conception were assessed by conventional semen analysis, and automated measurements of average straight-line velocity (VSL) and the percentage of sperm with characteristics that conform to those of sperm which bind to the zona pellucida of the human oocyte (%Z). During follow-up to 2001, there were 336 natural pregnancies. RESULTS: Only %Z, VSL and female age were independently significantly related to pregnancy rate by Cox regression analysis. Pregnancy rate was higher with above average %Z and VSL, indicating a continuous rather than a threshold relationship. The likelihood of pregnancy within 12 cycles can be evaluated for specific values of %Z, VSL and female age using the Cox regression model. CONCLUSIONS: The automated semen measures of sperm morphometry (%Z) and velocity (VSL) are related to pregnancy rates in subfertile couples and should assist clinicians in counselling subfertile patients about their prognosis for a natural pregnancy. Objective automated methods should replace the traditional manual assessments of semen quality.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The result in the in vitro fertilization programme, none of the examined parameters showed a correlation with either fertilization or pregnancy, which seems to be reasonable as severely damaged spermatozoa and leucocytes are eliminated from the ejaculate by different sperm separation methods.
Abstract: The presence of excess leucocytes in the semen has been associated with male infertility. According to the WHO, concentrations of more than 106 leucocytes ml-1 are considered as leucocytospermia, indicating genital tract infections. Up to now, no consensus has been achieved on how leucocytes should be quantified in semen. Using the peroxidase staining and monoclonal antibodies to CD15, CD45 and CD68, we found significant differences between the detection methods. Only 47.4% of the semen samples that were assessed as leucocytospermic by CD45 were identified as such by peroxidase staining. The concentration of peroxidase-positive cells was significantly correlated with polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) elastase (P < 0.0001). However, a negative correlation of peroxidase-positive cells with the sperm concentration was only found in oligozoospermic patients (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the slightly positive correlation with normal sperm morphology seems to be applicable only in cases of oligozoospermia. Significant negative correlation of the number of peroxidase-positive cells were found for both maximal inducible acrosome reaction (P = 0.0219) and the inducibility of acrosome reaction (P = 0.0370), indicating a rather deleterious effect of leucocytes on this important sperm function. Concerning the result in the in vitro fertilization programme, none of the examined parameters (PMN elastase, concentration of round cells and peroxidase-positive cells) showed a correlation with either fertilization or pregnancy. This result seems to be reasonable as severely damaged spermatozoa and leucocytes are eliminated from the ejaculate by different sperm separation methods. Interestingly, a significant negative correlation of the TUNEL assay as a measure of sperm DNA fragmentation was found only with pregnancy (P = 0.006) but not with fertilization. As DNA fragmentation can also be caused by ROS that are generated by leucocytes, this causality should not be neglected.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The objective was to evaluate the hypothalamic–pituitary–testis (HPT) axis, endocrine profiles and semen quality in men with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Abstract: Summary purpose To evaluate the hypothalamic–pituitary–testis (HPT) axis, endocrine profiles and semen quality in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). materials and methods Fifty-five men with SCI were studied. Serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, oestradiol and prolactin (PRL) were determined; the LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) stimulation test and a semen analysis were performed, and testicular volumes were measured. Thirty-six age-matched healthy male volunteers and 34 noninjured infertile men served as controls. results Eight SCI subjects had low basal LH, four had low basal FSH, and 16 had decreased basal serum levels of LH and FSH. Of subjects with lower serum levels of gonadotrophins (LH and/or FSH), nine had low serum testosterone and seven had hyperprolactinaemia. Serum levels of oestradiol were similar for all groups. There were increased LH and FSH responses to LHRH in SCI subjects compared to normal controls, but this difference was only statistically significant in SCI subjects with lower than normal serum levels of LH and/or FSH. There was no significant difference in testis volume between SCI subjects and controls. The mean semen volume in SCI subjects was lower than from controls, but the difference was not statistically significant. Sperm motility and percent normal sperm morphology were lower in SCI compared to normal controls but not to infertile control subjects. In total, 51% and 86% of SCI subjects had at least one hormonal or axis abnormality, respectively. conclusion We conclude that hypogonadotropism in SCI subjects is likely to be secondary to altered neural or hormonal pathways between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, and that these endocrine abnormalities may be the mechanisms contributing to impairment of semen quality.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the relationship between hormone profiles and semen analysis measures and fertility in the male partners of presumed normal couples was examined and significant positive relationships were observed between the two measures of FSH as well as between both of the FSH measures and LH.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that it is not possible to develop guidelines for clearance based only on the time or number of ejaculations when ligation and excision are performed, and of the methods for vas occlusion during vasectomy ligationand excision may not provide the best success rates.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: More than 75% of motile sperm from fertile men have no ability to bind to the zona pellucida, which has important implications for improvement of semen analysis.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Sperm binding to the zona pellucida (ZP) is required for human fertilization. Under experimental conditions not limited by ZP binding sites, the cumulative numbers of sperm binding tightly to the ZP will asymptote with time to the total number of sperm in the insemination medium capable of binding. METHODS Numbers of ZP-bound sperm were counted after groups of 10 oocytes were incubated with 2x10(4) motile sperm in 20 micro l droplets. The time-course of sperm binding was measured in three consecutive 2 h incubation periods using fresh oocytes for each period (n = 12). Using the kinetic theory of gases to model sperm-oocyte collision rates, the time-course results were extrapolated to give the total proportion of motile sperm capable of binding to the ZP. ZP binding of sperm after 4 h incubation was studied in 20 fertile and 20 normozoospermic subfertile men. RESULTS The percentage of motile sperm capable of binding was for fertile men: mean 14% (range 8-25) and for the subfertile: 4.3% (range 0.1-13, P < 0.001). Sperm morphology correlated with the proportion of ZP-bound sperm. CONCLUSIONS More than 75% of motile sperm from fertile men have no ability to bind to the ZP. This finding has important implications for improvement of semen analysis.

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: A standard semen analysis, in particular the assessment of sperm concentration and motility, should be viewed as a mandatory test for inclusion in the investigation of the infertile couple.
Abstract: The male partner is now recognized as the single most common contributor to a couple’s reason for infertility, with sperm defects accounting for around 30–50% of cases presenting to infertility clinics (Hull, 1992). A standard semen analysis, in particular the assessment of sperm concentration and motility, should therefore always be viewed as a mandatory test for inclusion in the investigation of the infertile couple (WHO, 1992; WHO,1999). A semen analysis, however, only helps to provide broad diagnostic categories.

Journal Article
TL;DR: The present study has confirmed similar findings from other different countries that declining sperm counts in humans is not a global phenomenon.
Abstract: The data on semen analysis of subjects attending the Fertility Clinic at NIHFW (National Institute of Health and Family Welfare) Munirka New Delhi for the last 11 years were analyzed to verify the claims and speculations on declining sperm counts in men. Approximately 10 % of the records every year starting from 1990 to 2000 (numbering 1176 in total) were randomly selected for analysis. Subjects with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia were excluded from analysis. The average age of the men attending the infertility clinic was 31.2 years. The average semen volume and sperm count were found to be (2.6±0.1) mL and (60.6±0.9) ×106/mL respectively. No significant decline in sperm counts was observed in any year during the entire study period. Only 1.8 % of the total number of sperm counts in the random sampling were less then 20×106/mL. On the basis of WHO criteria on motility the total percentage of non-progressive and non-motile sperm in the ejaculate was higher (63 %) as compared to the combined categories of slow and rapid linear progressive. The present study has confirmed similar findings from other different countries that declining sperm counts in humans is not a global phenomenon. (authors)

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is indicated that sperm with small acrosomes are more susceptible to cell death and nonphysiological acrosomal loss and therefore male fertility potential.
Abstract: Purpose: In this study, we investigated the relationship between functionality of the acrosome and sperm morphology.