Oxidative phosphorylation versus glycolysis: what fuel do spermatozoa use?

Spermatozoa are highly specialized cells. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which provides the energy for supporting the key functions of the spermatozoa, is formed by 2 metabolic pathways, namely glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). It is produced in the mitochondria through OXPHOS as well as in the head and principal piece of the flagellum through glycolysis. However, there is a great discrepancy as to which method of ATP production is primarily utilized by the spermatozoa for successful fertilization. Mitochondrial respiration is considered to be a more efficient metabolic process for ATP synthesis in comparison to glycolysis. However, studies have shown that the diffusion potential of ATP from the mitochondria to the distal end of the flagellum is not sufficient to support sperm motility, suggesting that glycolysis in the tail region is the preferred pathway for energy production. It is suggested by many investigators that although glycolysis forms the major source of ATP along the flagellum, energy required for sperm motility is mainly produced during mitochondrial respiration. Nevertheless, some studies have shown that when glycolysis is inhibited, proper functioning and motility of spermatozoa remains intact although it is unclear whether such motility can be sustained for prolonged periods of time, or is sufficiently vigorous to achieve optimal fertilization. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of mammalian sperm energy metabolism and identify the preferred metabolic pathway for ATP generation which forms the basis of energy production in human spermatozoa during fertilization.     

链状酰胺类化合物B07的体外杀精效果及其对精子质膜的影响

目的:研究一种链状酰胺类化合物(B07)的体外杀精作用及其对精子质膜的影响。方法:上游收集高活力人类精子分别与0μg/ml(对照组),5~640μg/ml B07作用30 min,随后用计算机辅助精液分析仪分析记录精子的活率及运动参数;用160μg/ml B07与精子作用,记录5 min、30 min、60 min和120 min时精子活动率;处理后的精子一部分经SYBR-14/PI双染后用荧光显微镜观察,另一部分通过电子显微镜来观察质膜的变化情况;并以壬苯醇醚(N9)作为阳性对照。结果:随着B07浓度的升高,精子活率和活力呈下降趋势,最低有效浓度(MEC)为640μg/ml;荧光显微镜下经B07处理的精子呈橙色,而N9处理的精子呈红色;电子显微镜显示B07组精子头部肿胀起泡,尾部针孔样损伤,N9组精子呈溶解性改变。结论:B07具有体外杀精作用,且该作用有时间和浓度依赖性,且其对精子质膜的影响小于N9。     

Nuclear degraded sperm subpopulation is affected by poor chromatin compaction and nuclease activity

There is an interest in the nuclear degraded sperm subpopulation because, although it is present in a low percentage in all semen samples, patient groups such as varicocele and rearranged genome carriers show high levels of these degraded spermatozoa. This study is designed with two objectives in mind: first, incubations of H₂O₂ and nuclease on DTT‐treated and untreated samples to show the aetiology of this subpopulation and second, assessment of the correlation between the protamine ratio and nuclear degraded spermatozoa. A very high increase in the nuclear degraded subpopulation has been found with nuclease incubation, and it is even higher when it has been merged with nuclear decompaction using DTT. Alternatively, incubation with H₂O₂ with and without DTT did not show such a significant increase in nuclear degraded spermatozoa. The protamine ratio correlated with this subpopulation, showing, in patients, that poor nuclear compaction would turn the sperm susceptible to degradation. Then, the assessment of nuclear degraded spermatozoa might not be only a measure of DNA degradation but also an indicator of chromatin compaction in the spermatozoa. Different patient groups would fit this model for sperm nuclear degradation, such as varicocele patients, who show a high percentage of immature spermatozoa and nuclear degraded spermatozoa, and reorganised genome carriers, where reorganisation might also cause poor chromatin compaction on the sperm nucleus.     

In vitro effects of nonylphenol on motility,mitochondrial, acrosomal and chromatin integrity of ram and boar spermatozoa

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of nonylphenol (NP) on viability of ram and boar sperm in vitro. Ram or boar spermatozoa were exposed to 1, 10, 100, 250 and 500 μg NP ml^?1 for 1, 2, 3 or 4 h. Computer‐assisted sperm motility analysis (CASA) system was used to evaluate sperm motility characteristics. Flow cytometry was used to determine mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and chromatin integrity, while epifluorescent microscopy was used to determine sperm acrosomal status. Exposure of both species spermatozoa to 250 and 500 μg NP ml^?1 was detrimental to progressive motility (P < 0.05), and its adverse effect was significant at lower (100 μg NP ml^?1) concentration (P < 0.05). The percentages of ram and boar spermatozoa with high MMP declined drastically after exposures to ≥250 μg ml^?1 NP (P < 0.05). Unlike chromatin integrity, which did not appear to be altered by NP exposure, there were dose‐dependent NP effects (P < 0.05) on acrosomal integrity of both species at as low as 1 μg ml^?1 NP for boar spermatozoa and 10 μg ml^?1 NP for ram spermatozoa. These data show adverse effects of NP on ram and boar spermatozoa and thus its potential harmful effects on male reproduction as NP is found in fruits, vegetables, human milk, fish and livestock products.     

Immobilising effect of Ruta graveolens L. on human spermatozoa: coumarin compounds are involved

This study was designed to find out Ruta graveolens L. functional components, which have immobilisation effect on human spermatozoa for contraceptive use. A five‐step fractionation method was used to derive different components from rue aqueous extract by using hexane, chloroform, ethanol, acetone and ultrapure water. Gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometery (GC–MS) of all fractions and the aqueous extract were performed to determine the chemical components. The immobilisation assay and membrane integrity test were also performed with four different coumarins, which were found in GC–MS in a concentration of 10 μm . Hexane, chloroform, acetone and ethanol fractions could significantly decrease motility of sperms within the first and the second hours. Hexane fraction had also significant immediate effect. The aqueous fraction had no effect on sperm motility. Meanwhile, GC–MS revealed that aqueous extract and effective fractions had similar coumarin compounds. We performed the immobilisation assay on four different coumarins, which were found in GC–MS in a concentration of 10 μm . Reduction of sperm motility was only significant for xanthotoxin. In the sperm viability and membrane integrity tests, hexane and ethanolic fractions could impair sperm vitality significantly, in contrast to coumarins. These results indicated that a part of immobilising effect of rue could be due to its coumarins. The possible mechanism could be blocking of spermatozoa potassium channels.     

The Uruguayan semen donor population: A twenty-eight-year retrospective study

Several studies have reported a global decline in seminal quality over the years. The objective of this study was to describe the semen donor population of Uruguay through comparing data of successive samples banked by the same donors and the analysis of their semen and physical characteristics, ancestry origin and educational level. A total of 3,449 ejaculated samples collected from 71 donors, cryobanked between 1989 and March 2017 at Fertilab, were analysed. Results revealed a mean age of 23.90 ± 3.98 years, an average weight of 74.95 ± 1.09 kg and a mean height of 1.78 ± 0.06 m. The majority of the donors trace their origin to Europe (74.65%, 53/71) and 66.19% (47/71) have a level of education higher than secondary school. We observed longitudinal differences in two parameters, that is sperm concentration and semen volume. Sperm concentration declined, while semen volume increased significantly over the 28-year period. The results of the present study are in accordance with that of previous articles that also reported a decline in sperm concentration over time. However, no differences were observed in total sperm number per ejaculate due to the increase in semen volume values, thus reflecting no real changes in sperm production over time.     

Effect of lansoprazole on DNA integrity of human spermatozoa and activity of seminal creatine kinase

Although lansoprazole (brand name Prevacid) is a commonly used dug to manage various acid-related gastrointestinal diseases, little is known about its effects on human semen quality and sperm parameters. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of lansoprazole on DNA integrity of human spermatozoa and activity of seminal creatine kinase. DNA integrity of human spermatozoa was assessed by the Apo-Direct™ kit followed by flow cytometry. The activity of creatine kinase was measured by kinetic spectrophotometric method using commercially available kits following the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry recommendations. Lansoprazole at 3 µg/ml, after 1-hr incubation period, did not show any significant increase in fluorescein isothiocyanate fluorescence (p > .05) and hence on the content of DNA breaks of human spermatozoa. In addition, there was no significant change (p = .8113) in the activity of seminal creatine kinase by the effect of lansoprazole. In conclusion, lansoprazole at 3 µg/ml did not alter DNA integrity of human spermatozoa or activity of seminal creatine kinase after 1-hr incubation period.     

Platelet-activating factor induces acrosome reaction via the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in human spermatozoa

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) affects capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertilisation potential of spermatozoa. This study investigated the underlying mechanism(s) through which PAF regulated sperm function. Our data demonstrated that PAF dose-dependently induced, whilst lyso-PAF (PAF precursor) showed no effect on acrosome reaction of capacitated human spermatozoa. Treatment with PAF for 90 min enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation and expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1 and 2 in human spermatozoa. Moreover, pre-treatment with the ERK inhibitor U0126 significantly and dose-dependently suppressed PAF-induced acrosome reaction. Therefore, PAF may be actively involved in the modulation of sperm acrosome reaction by interacting with ERK. The role of PAF in fertilisation warrants further investigation.