Semen analysis

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

Testicular function in potential sperm donors: normal ranges and the effects of smoking and varicocele.

Abstract: Testicular exocrine (semen analysis) and endocrine (plasma LH, FSH, prolactin and testosterone) function was assessed in 119 consecutive healthy men presenting for screening as potential sperm donors Since these volunteers were unbiased with respect to their fertility status, this sample of the general male population was suitable to determine normal ranges and the influence of a variety of physical (height, weight, standardized body weight, varicocele) and demographic (age, marital and fertility status, tobacco and alcohol consumption) factors on normal human testicular endocrine and exocrine function, without the confounding effects of bias in selection of subjects The statistical distribution of all seminal parameters was non-gaussian, but cube-root transformation of the data normalized the distribution, allowing for parametric statistical analysis The median (and 95% confidence limits) for the various semen parameters was 730 (106-2353) million sperm per ml; 1890 (126-868) million sperm per ejaculate; 504 (59-1819) million motile sperm per ml; 1330 (69-6617) million motile sperm per ejaculate; 540 (70-1729) million morphologically normal sperm per ml and 1385 (75-672) million morphologically normal sperm per ejaculate Testicular volume was correlated positively with measures of physique such as standardized body weight (r = 025, P less than 001) and body surface area (r = 030, P less than 0002), and negatively with plasma levels of FSH (r = -031), P less than 0002) but not LH Sperm output was positively correlated with testicular volume (r = 028, P less than 0005) and negatively correlated with plasma FSH (r = -031, P less than 0002) and plasma LH (r = -031, P less than 0002) Smoking was associated with a highly significant reduction in sperm output and motility Men with varicocele (25%) were significantly taller, had slightly lower haemoglobin levels and moderate left (but not right) testicular atrophy, but neither seminal nor hormonal parameters were different from men without varicocele There was no difference in any markers of human testicular function between men according to marital or fertility status, grades of moderate alcohol consumption or the presence of low titres of sperm antibodies

[WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen: its applicability to andrology laboratories in China].

Abstract: The 5th edition of WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen (2010) represents a comprehensive revision. This article aims to explore the applicability of this manual to andrology laboratories in China mainland in view of sperm count analysis, sperm motility analysis, sperm morphology analysis, sperm function analysis, anti-sperm antibody and seminal plasma biochemical marker analysis, and quality assurance and quality control of semen analysis. The authors deem that its recommendation to the analysis method and lower reference limit of sperm concentration may be a little arbitrary and lack of evidence-based support, that the revised grading sperm motility, the strict criteria and the very low cut-off value of 4% morphologically normal spermatozoa for the evaluation of sperm morphology are not applicable to andrology laboratories in China mainland, that the sperm function markers need to be supplemented, and that the determination methods of anti-sperm antibody and seminal plasma biochemical markers are incompatible with the status of Chinese andrology laboratories. However, its recommended methods for quality assurance and quality control of semen analysis have a significant directive role in China mainland. It is worth to point out that the WHO manual ignored the data obtained from Chinese which accounts for approximate 20% of the world population. Thus, given the importance of the WHO manual, its general applicability should be evaluated in China.

Complete globozoospermia associated with PLCζ deficiency treated with calcium ionophore and ICSI results in pregnancy.

Abstract: Globozoospermia is an infrequent pathology in which spermatozoa lack acrosomes. Patients are considered sterile without IVF augmented with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), as fertilization is impaired due to absence of oocyte activation. As far as is known, this is the first study to report results of a comprehensive approach to the treatment of the semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation, aneuploidy, transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting and immunofluorescence for detection of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ), as well as ICSI outcome, of an affected patient. Morphological evaluation and transmission electron microscopy revealed complete globozoospermia with significant duplicate heads and tails. Analysis for DNA damage revealed fragmentation rates of approximately 80% in semen and 15–23% in swim-up fractions. PLCζ was not detected by immunofluorescence or Western blotting. Aneuploidy rates were within normal ranges. ICSI followed by oocyte activation with calcium ionophore resulted in high rates of fertilization, and an ongoing pregnancy was established after transfer of cryopreserved–thawed embryos.