Semen analysis

About: Semen analysis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4909 publications have been published within this topic receiving 143225 citations.

Electroejaculation and semen analysis and freezing in the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Abstract: Summary. Semen was collected by a standardized electroejaculation procedure from a giant panda on 4 occasions. Ejaculate volume, sperm count and % sperm motility were 2\m=.\3\p=n-\3\m=.\6ml, 62\p=n-\562\m=x\ 106 spermatozoa/ml and 45\p=n-\85%respectively. The results, although limited to a single male, suggested a seasonal influence on ejaculate and gonadal parameters with improved ejaculate volume, sperm motility and increased testicular size in the season proximate to the female's oestrous period. Frozen\p=n-\thawed spermatozoa were motile with no apparent abnormalities induced by the freezing procedure.

Semen Analysis and Sperm Function Assays: What Do They Mean?

Abstract: Appropriate laboratory testing is an integral component of the proper evaluation of the male presenting with infertility. This article reviews the semen analysis and sperm function assays. Sperm function testing is used to determine if the sperm have the biologic capacity to perform the tasks necessary to reach and fertilize ova and ultimately result in live births. For a sperm to be fertile in vivo, it must be able to traverse the cervical mucus and reach the ova. The sperm must undergo capacitation and the acrosome reaction, fuse with the oolemma, and incorporate into the ooplasm. Proper embryo development requires that functional DNA be delivered to the ooplasm. Defects in any of these steps may result in infertility. A variety of tests are available to evaluate different aspects of these functions. To accurately use these functional assays, the clinician must understand what the tests measure, what the indications are for the assays, and how to interpret the results to direct further testing or patient management.

Evidence of 5-HT components in human sperm: Implications for protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the physiology of motility

Abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; C(10)H(12)N(2)O (5-HT)) is produced in the CNS and in some cells of peripheral tissues. In the mammalian male reproductive system, both 5-HT and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) have been described in Leydig cells of the testis and in principal cells of the caput epididymis. In capacitated hamster sperm, it has been shown that 5-HT promotes the acrosomal reaction. The aim of this work was to explore the existence of components of the serotoninergic system and their relevance in human sperm physiology. We used both immunocytochemistry and western blot to detect serotoninergic markers such as 5-HT, TPH1, MAO(A), 5-HT(1B), 5-HT(3), and 5HT(T); HPLC for TPH enzymatic activity; Computer Assisted Semen Analysis assays to measure sperm motility parameters and pharmacological approaches to show the effect of 5-HT in sperm motility and tyrosine phosphorylation was assessed by western blot. We found the presence of serotoninergic markers (5-HT, TPH1, MAO(A), 5-HT(1B), 5-HT(2A), 5-HT(3), 5-HT(T), and TPH enzymatic activity) in human sperm. In addition, we observed a significant increase in tyrosine phosphorylation and changes in sperm motility after 5-HT treatment. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the existence of components of a serotoninergic system in human sperm and support the notion for a functional role of 5-HT in mammalian sperm physiology, which can be modulated pharmacologically.

Seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone level correlates with semen parameters but does not predict success of testicular sperm extraction (TESE).

Abstract: Aim: To assess seminal plasma anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) level relationships in fertile and infertile males. Methods: Eighty-four male cases were studied and divided into four groups: fertile normozoospermia (n = 16), oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n = 15), obstructive azoospermia (OA) (n = 13) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) (n = 40). Conventional semen analysis was done for all cases. Testicular biopsy was done with histopathology and fresh tissue examination for testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in NOA cases. NOA group was subdivided according to TESE results into unsuccessful TESE (n = 19) and successful TESE (n = 21). Seminal plasma AMH was estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) was estimated in NOA cases only by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results: Mean seminal AMH was significantly higher in fertile group than in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with significance (41.5 ± 10.9 pmol/L vs. 30.5 ± 10.3 pmol/L, P < 0.05). Seminal AMH was not detected in any OA patients. Seminal AMH was correlated positively with testicular volume (r = 0.329, P = 0.005), sperm count (r = 0.483, P = 0.007), sperm motility percent (r = 0.419, P = 0.021) and negatively with sperm abnormal forms percent (r = –0.413, P = 0.023). Nonsignificant correlation was evident with age (r = –0.155, P = 0.414) and plasma FSH ( r = –0.014, P = 0.943). In NOA cases, seminal AMH was detectable in 23/40 cases, 14 of them were successful TESE (57.5%) and was undetectable in 17/40 cases, 10 of them were unsuccessful TESE (58.2%). Conclusion: Seminal plasma AMH is an absolute testicular marker being absent in all OA cases. However, seminal AMH has a poor predictability for successful testicular sperm retrieval in NOA cases. (Asian J Androl 2007 Mar; 9: 265–270)