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Semen analysis
About: Semen analysis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4909 publications have been published within this topic receiving 143225 citations.
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TL;DR: Workers occupationally exposed to DMF could be at risk of sperm motility perturbation and the responsible toxicant for the alterations of sperm function could be the active NMF metabolite instead of DMF, but this conclusion warrants a further complete investigation.
51 citations
TL;DR: TSP and MJ33 prevented sperm capacitation and its associated actin polymerization in spermatozoa incubated with 10% FCSu (capacitation inducer) compared to non-capacitated controls, suggesting that not only peroxidase but also Ca2+-iPLA2 activity of PRDX6 are necessary to guarantee viability in human sperm viability.
Abstract: STUDY QUESTION Do peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) control reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels during human sperm capacitation? SUMMARY ANSWER PRDXs are necessary to control the levels of ROS generated during capacitation allowing spermatozoa to achieve fertilizing ability. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Sperm capacitation is an oxidative event that requires low and controlled amounts of ROS to trigger phosphorylation events. PRDXs are antioxidant enzymes that not only act as scavengers but also control ROS action in somatic cells. Spermatozoa from infertile men have lower levels of PRDXs (particularly of PRDX6), which are thiol-oxidized and therefore inactive. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Semen samples were obtained from a cohort of 20 healthy nonsmoker volunteers aged 22-30 years old over a period of 1 year. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS Sperm from healthy donors was capacitated with fetal cord serum ultrafiltrate (FCSu) in the absence or presence of thiostrepton (TSP), inhibitor of 2-Cys PRDXs or 1-Hexadecyl-3-(trifluoroethyl)-sn-glycero-2-phosphomethanol lithium (MJ33), inhibitor of calcium independent-phospholipase A2 (Ca2+-iPLA2) activity of PRDX6, added at different times of incubation. Capacitation was also induced by the dibutyryl cAMP+3-isobuty1-1-methylxanthine system. Sperm viability and motility were determined by the hypo-osmotic swelling test and computer-assisted semen analysis system, respectively. Capacitation was determined by the ability of spermatozoa to undergo the acrosome reaction triggered by lysophosphatidylcholine. Percentages of acrosome reaction were obtained using the FITC-conjugated Pisum sativum agglutinin assay. Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues and of protein kinase A (PKA) substrates were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Actin polymerization was determined by phalloidin labeling. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE TSP and MJ33 prevented sperm capacitation and its associated actin polymerization in spermatozoa incubated with 10% FCSu (capacitation inducer) compared to non-capacitated controls (P < 0.05) without altering sperm viability. PKA substrates and tyrosine phosphorylations were prevented in FCSu-treated spermatozoa in a differential fashion depending on the type and the time of addition of the inhibitor used compared to non-capacitated controls (P < 0.05). TSP and MJ33 promoted an increase of lipid peroxidation in spermatozoa (P < 0.01) and these levels were higher in those spermatozoa incubated with the inhibitors and FCSu compared to those capacitated spermatozoa incubated without the inhibitors (P < 0.0001). Inhibition of 2-Cys PRDXs by TSP generated an oxidative stress in spermatozoa, affecting their viability compared to controls (P < 0.05). This oxidative stress was prevented by nuclephile D-penicillamine (PEN). MJ33 also promoted an increase of lipid peroxidation and impaired sperm viability compared to non-treated controls (P < 0.05) but its effect was not circumvented by PEN, suggesting that not only peroxidase but also Ca2+-iPLA2 activity of PRDX6 are necessary to guarantee viability in human spermatozoa. LARGE SCALE DATA Not applicable. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION We focused on the global effect of PRDXs inhibitors on human sperm capacitation and in two of its associated phosphorylation events. Thus, other phosphorylation events and mechanisms necessary for capacitation may also be affected. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS PRDXs are the major antioxidant system in ejaculated spermatozoa and are necessary to allow spermatozoon to achieve fertilizing ability (capacitation and acrosome reaction). STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP 133661) and the Fonds de Recherche en Sante Quebec (FRSQS #22151) to C.O. The authors have nothing to disclose.
50 citations
TL;DR: It was found that very small concentrations of DEDTC immobilized the sperm cells within 80 min, while EDTA had no depressing effect at the concentrations used, and it is suggested that intracellular mitochondrial zinc ions play a crucial role for sperm cell motility.
Abstract: The effects of two different zinc chelators, diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC) and calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), in full semen samples and ‘swim-up’ samples were investigated. DEDTC, which crosses cell membranes, and EDTA, which does not cross cell membranes, were added to semen samples in different concentrations. Sperm cell motility parameters were assessed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). It was found that very small concentrations (0.01 mM) of DEDTC immobilized the sperm cells within 80 min, while EDTA had no depressing effect at the concentrations used. In full semen samples EDTA enhanced straight line velocity (VSL) at concentrations of 1.0 and 0.5 mM; this effect was not found at higher concentrations. It is suggested that intracellular mitochondrial zinc ions play a crucial role for sperm cell motility, while loosely bound or free zinc ions in the seminal plasma exert a secondary role on human sperm cell motility.
50 citations
50 citations
TL;DR: Comparisons between the groups of men whose partners conceived and those that did not, showed that the mean duration of infertility in the primary infertile group was significantly shorter when a pregnancy was observed, while age differed significantly between the two populations in the secondary infertiles group.
Abstract: A prospective study of 394 infertile men was conducted over 3 years following a primary semen analysis. Simple comparisons between the groups of men whose partners conceived and those that did not, showed that the mean duration of infertility in the primary infertile group was significantly shorter when a pregnancy was observed, while age differed significantly between the two populations in the secondary infertile group. Multivariate analyses, taking these variables and sperm characteristics into account, showed that prognostic variables for the occurrence of pregnancy were the duration of infertility, sperm motility and the multiple anomalies index in the primary infertile group, and age of the male partner and percentage of normal sperm in the secondary infertile group. Tables for estimating the probability of observing a pregnancy as a function of these criteria are presented. In this study no positive influence of treatment on the occurrence of a pregnancy was found during the 3 years following the first semen analysis.
50 citations