Significance of malondialdehyde concentration in seminal plasma of infertile men

Objective: To determine the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), product of lipid peroxidation, in seminal plasma and evalu ate its significance. Methods: Ninety-three cases of infertile pa tients were divided into the obstructive azoospermic (12 cases), the non-obstructive azoospermic (15 cases), the oligozoospermic (21 cases), the asthenozoospermic (19 cases), the oligoastheno zoospermic (16 cases) and the oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (10) groups. Eighteen fertile males served as the controls. MDA con centration was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatogra phy (HPLC). Results: With the exception of the obstructive azoospermic group, the MDA concentration in the seminal plasma was significantly different between the control group and the infer tile groups (P<0.01) as well as between the different infertile groups. Conclusion: Determination of MDA concentration in the seminal plasma is helpful to the diagnosis of male infertility induced by overproduction of reactive oxygen species.     

生育与不育男性精浆总抗氧化能力分析

目的:分析生育与不育男性精浆中总抗氧化能力(TAC)及其在男性生育中意义。方法:225例男性不育患者分为6组,分别为:梗阻性无精子症组(n=10),非梗阻性无精子症组(n=42),少精子症组(n=20),弱精子症组(n=78),少弱精子症组(n=57),以及正常精子症组(n=18)。28例正常生育男性作为对照(生育组)。分别采用计算机辅助精液分析(CASA)系统进行精液参数分析,采用比色法检测精浆TAC水平。结果:生育组男性精浆TAC为(19.82±6.33)U,梗阻性无精子症组(1.71±1.33)U,非梗阻性无精子症组(12.73±9.44)U,少精子症组(10.85±6.64)U,弱精子症组(13.88±8.24)U,少弱精子症组(11.20±7.02)U,正常精子症组(18.07±8.73)U;与生育组精浆TAC[(19.82±6.33)U]相比,在各不育症组中,除正常精子症组精浆TAC与生育组差异无显著性外,其余各组均显著低于生育组(P<0.01)。精浆TAC与精子密度(r=0.182,P<0.05)和a级精子(r=0.150,P<0.05)呈显著正相关。结论:精浆中TAC水平与男性不育密切相关,精浆中过低的TAC水平可能是引起男性不育的病因之一。     

男性不育患者精浆尿酸的检测及临床意义初探

目的 :检测男性不育患者精浆尿酸的含量 ,并探讨其与不育的关系。　方法 :2 0 0 3年 2～ 8月就诊的男性不育患者 1 6 3例 ,分为 4组 :梗阻性无精子症组 ,1 5例 ;非梗阻性无精子症组 ,36例 ;少精子症组 ,4 3例 ;弱精子症组 ,6 9例。 2 0例正常生育男性为正常对照组。上述各组均作精液参数分析及精浆尿酸含量的测定。　结果 :正常对照组精浆尿酸含量为 (396 .9± 5 3.1 ) μmol/L ,显著高于梗阻性无精子症组 [(79.5± 1 8.1 ) μmol/L]、非梗阻性无精子症组[(2 4 5 .8± 76 .5 ) μmol/L]、少精子症组 [(2 6 2 .2± 79.2 ) μmol/L]和弱精子症组 [(2 5 1 .4± 75 .4 ) μmol/L](P均 <0 .0 1 )。其中 ,梗阻性无精子症组精浆尿酸含量又显著低于其他各不育症组 (P均 <0 .0 1 ) ,其余各不育症组间精浆尿酸含量差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。　结论 :精浆中尿酸作为生殖系统中的一种重要抗氧化物 ,可能在男性生殖中具有一定意义。     

Relationship between Zinc Concentrations in Seminal Plasma and Various Sperm Parameters

The zinc concentration in seminal plasma from 98 infertile male patients and 8 fertile males was measured. The zinc concentration of the seminal plasma in azoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic patients was significantly lower than that in the other groups (each, p<0.05). The seminal plasma zinc concentration in asthenozoospermic males was significantly higher than that in any other group (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation of zinc concentration with sperm concentration (r=0.33, p<0.05) and with sperm motility (r=0.22, p<0.05), while there was no correlation with sperm morphology. A correlation between zinc concentration and plasma testosterone concentration was observed (r=0.24, p<0.05). It is concluded that excessively high zinc concentration is apparently related to defective motility in asthenozoospermic patients, even though adequate seminal plasma content of the element is required for normal sperm function.     

生育与不育男性血清和精浆褪黑素检测及其意义

目的 :检测生育与不育男性精浆褪黑素 (MLT)浓度并探讨在男性生育中的意义。　方法 :年龄为 2 6～ 36岁的生育男性 (18例 )和年龄为 2 3～ 36岁的不育男性 (99例 ) ,其中 ,后者又分为正常精子症组 (13例 )、少精子症组(2 7例 )、弱精子症组 (31例 )、少弱精子症组 (17例 )和少弱畸精子症组 (11例 )。分别采集静脉血和精液 ,采用酶联免疫吸附实验 (ELISA)检测血清和精浆中MLT浓度。　结果 :血清MLT浓度在生育与不育男性之间无显著性差异 ,各组精浆MLT浓度均低于相应的血清值。生育组精浆MLT浓度与各不育组相比无显著性差异 ,而少弱精子症组和少弱畸精子症组MLT浓度下降较为明显 ,但尚未达到统计学意义 (P >0 .0 5 )。　结论 :本研究结果表明 ,精浆MLT可能对精子功能具有一定作用 ,其具体作用机制尚需进一步深入的研究。     

Total anti-oxidant status: a biochemical predictor of human male fertility

The objective of the study was to assess whether seminal plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) can be used as a biochemical predictor of male fertility and its variation in different categories of infertile male subjects in our population. The study population consisted of 28 fertile and 127 infertile [teratozoospermic (30), asthenoteratozoospermic (30), azoospermic (21), oligoastheno-teratozoospermic (20), polyzoospermic (15) and oligozoospermic (11)] male subjects. Seminal plasma was separated by centrifugation and stored at minus 80 degree Celsius. Semen was analysed using computer-assisted semen analysis according to WHO criteria. Seminal plasma TAS was estimated by colorimetric method using Randox total antioxidant status kit. TAS of fertile male subjects was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than that of infertile patients. In whole studied population, seminal plasma TAS showed a significant positive correlation with sperm concentration (P < 0.001), sperm motility (P < 0.0001), and spermatozoa with normal morphology (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study suggests that TAS of seminal plasma is one of the important factors contributing to male infertility, and it can be used as a biochemical predictor for male fertility.     

弱精子症、少弱精子症患者血清、精浆和精子锌含量分析

目的:检测弱精子症和少弱精子症患者血清、精浆和精子锌的含量,分析锌含量的变化与精子密度和精子运动之间的关系。方法:按照WHO《人类精液及精子-宫颈粘液相互作用实验室检验手册》第四版的标准进行精液质量分析,随机筛选出90例弱精子症、60例少弱精子症患者以及20例精液质量正常的生育者作为研究对象,利用原子吸收光谱法检测其血清、精浆、精子的锌含量并进行统计学分析。结果:3组间血清锌含量没有显著差异;弱精子症、少弱精子症患者精浆锌含量均显著低于正常生育者(P<0.05);少弱精子症患者精子锌含量显著高于弱精子症患者和正常生育者(P<0.01)。结论:弱精子症、少弱精子症患者精子的发生及运动功能下降可能与精浆锌含量的低下呈正相关;但过高的精子锌含量与精子的发生和运动功能的关系尚不十分明了,有待进一步研究。     

Chromosomal abnormalities and y chromosome microdeletions in infertile men with varicocele and idiopathic infertility of South Indian origin

Various factors cause spermatogenesis arrest in men and, in a large number of cases, the underlying reason still remains unknown. Little attention is paid to determining the genetic defects of varicocele-related infertility. The objective of our present study was to investigate the chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions in infertile men of South Indian origin with varicocele and idiopathic infertility. Metaphase chromosomes of 251 infertile men with varicocele and unexplained infertility were analyzed using Giemsa-Trypsin-Giemsa (GTG) banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The microdeletions in 6 genes and 18 sequence-tagged-sites (STS) in the Yq region were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Out of 251 infertile men, 57 (22.7%) men were with varicocele, of which 8.77% were azoospermic, 26.31% were severely oligozoospermic, 21.05% were mildly oligozoospermic, and 43.85% were oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT), and 194 (77.29%), with idiopathic infertility, of which 51% were azoospermic, 13.40% were severely oligozoospermic, 19.07% were mildly oligozoospermic, and 16.4% were with OAT. Genetic defects were observed in 38 (15.13%) infertile individuals, including 14 (24.56%) men with varicocele and 24 (12.37%) men with idiopathic infertility. The frequencies of chromosomal defects in varicocele and idiopathic infertility were 19.3% and 8.76%, respectively, whereas Y chromosome microdeletions were 5.26% and 3.60%, respectively. Overall rate of incidence of chromosomal anomalies and microdeletions in 251 infertile men were 11.5% and 3.98%, respectively, indicating a very significant higher association of genetic defects with varicocele than idiopathic male infertility. Our data also demonstrate that, among infertile men with varicocele, severely oligozoospermic and OAT men with varicocele have higher incidences of genetic defects than mildly oligozoospermic and azoospermic men.     

Assessment of seminal plasma laminin in fertile and infertile men

Aim： To assess laminin levels in the seminal plasma of infertile and fertile men, and to analyze the correlation of laminin levels with sperm count, age, sperm motility and semen volume. Methods： One hundred and twenty-five recruited men were equally divided into five groups according to their sperm concentration and clinical examination： fertile normozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA）, obstructive azoospermia （OA） and congenital bilateral absent vas deferens （CBAVD）. The patients＇ medical history was investigated and patients underwent clinical examination, conventional semen analysis and estimation of seminal plasma laminin by radioimmunoassay. Results： Seminal plasma laminin levels of successive groups were： 2.82 ± 0.62, 2.49 ± 0.44, 1.77 ± 0.56, 1.72 ± 0.76, 1.35 ± 0.63 U/mL, respectively. The fertile normozoospermic group showed the highest concentration compared to all infertile groups with significant differences compared to azoospermic groups （P 〈 0.05）. Testicular contribution was estimated to be approximately one-third of the seminal laminin. Seminal plasma laminin demonstrated significant correlation with sperm concentration （r = 0.460, P 〈 0.001） and nonsignificant correlation with age （r = 0.021, P = 0.940）, sperm motility percentage （r = 0.142, P = 0.615） and semen volume （r = 0.035, P = 0.087）. Conelusion： Seminal plasma laminin is derived mostly from prostatic and testicular portions and minimally from the seminal vesicle and vas deferens. Estimating seminal laminin alone is not conclusive in diagnosing different cases of male infertility.     

精浆和血清生殖激素与精液质量的关系

目的为了评估精液质量不同的男性精浆和血清生殖激素的浓度与精子浓度及活动力的关系,探索精浆与血清生殖激素的关系。方法对301名男性进行精液检查,按照精液的质量参数将受试对象分成4组:精液正常组(n=176),弱精子症组(n=66),少精子症组(n=40)和非梗阻性无精子症组(n=19)。采用电化学发光免疫法测定各组受试对象血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、泌乳素(PRL)、孕酮(P)、睾酮(T)和雌二醇(E2)六项生殖激素和精浆PRL、T、P和E2四项生殖激素的浓度,比较组间差异并进行相关性分析。结果精液正常组和弱精子症组血清FSH和E2的浓度显著低于少精子症组和非梗阻性无精子症组(P0.05),精液正常组血清LH和P的浓度显著低于弱精子症、少精子症和非梗阻性无精子症的人群(P0.05);而精液正常、弱精子症和少精子症三组精浆PRL的浓度则高于非梗阻性无精子症组(P0.05)。除了非梗阻性无精子症组,受试者血清FSH的浓度与其精子浓度呈负相关(r分别为-0.350、-0.273和-0.448,P0.05)。精液正常组精浆PRL的浓度和精子的浓度之间呈正相关(r=0.269,P0.05);在少精子症组中,亦有相同趋势的相关性(r=0.432,P0.05)。结论精浆PRL及血清FSH的浓度能够反映精子浓度或活动力,在男性不育的病因分析中具有一定的指导价值。     

Novel variants in UBE2B gene and idiopathic male infertility

The UBE2B gene encodes ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, which is involved in DNA repair. Ube2b knockout mice were found to be infertile because of structural abnormality of sperm. However, there is no genetic study on the role of the UBE2B gene in human fertility; therefore, the present investigation was designed to study genetic variations in the UBE2B gene and its role in human male infertility. Sequence analyses of the UBE2B gene in 530 infertile (350 azoospermic, 105 oligoasthenoteratozoospermic, and 75 oligoasthenozoospermic) and 300 fertile control men revealed the presence of 5 substitution single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 221 individuals (199 infertile [37.5%] and 22 fertile [7.3%] men). Of these, 2 (g.5197:T>G; g.9157:A>G) of the 5 substitutions were novel and observed only in infertile men. Distribution of haplotypes TA, TG, GA, and GG are not uniform between the patient and the control group of this study. Interestingly, our study suggests that the haplotype TG conferred significantly increased risk for male infertility (odds ratio = 5.07, 95% CI = 1.29-23.29, p = .007). In silico analysis of SNPs that were specific to infertile men predicted that these SNPs lead to defective splicing by destroying or creating the potential binding site of splicing factors or causing alteration in predicted regulatory sequences. In the light of the above, our study suggests that the UBE2B gene is associated with male infertility in Indian men, hence, providing evidence for additional genetic factors for male infertility.     

精浆中分子物质与男性不育

本文报告男性不育患者精浆、血浆中分子物质测定结果。３４例生育男性精浆中分子物质平均含量为１５３８．５Ｕ／ｄｌ；３６例睾丸生精障碍男性精浆中分子物质平均含量为１４６９Ｕ／ｄｌ；６２例不明原因不育男性精浆中分子物质平均含量为１３２５．３／ｄｌ。生育与不明原因不育男性精浆中分子物质含量比较差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０１），生育和不育男性血浆中分子物质无显著性差异（Ｐ＞０．０５），睾丸生精障碍男性与生育男性精浆中分子物质含量相比无统计学意义（Ｐ＞０．０５）。提示精浆中分子物质主要来自附睾、前列腺、精囊等附属性腺。     

Transferrin in Seminal Plasma of Fertile and Infertile Men

The levels of transferrin in seminal plasma of a large sample of infertile men (n = 287) were measured by radioimmunoassay. A group of recently pregnancy-proven fertile men (n = 20) was used as control and a small group (n = 6) of vasectomized men was studied to determine the origin of seminal transferrin. Infertile men had lower transferrin values than fertile men, although the difference was not significant in the case of normozoospermic infertile men (0,05 less than p less than 0,1); in the case of oligozoospermic infertile men the difference was highly significant (p less than 0,001). The values of transferrin in severely oligozoospermic, azoospermic and vasectomized subjects suggested that 60% of seminal transferrin could be of testicular origin. In infertile patients transferrin fall along with sperm count; there is a strong correlation between transferrin and sperm density. FSH levels were measured in a group of severely oligozoospermic and azoospermic patients (n = 41); although the patients with elevated FSH had lower transferrin levels than the patients with FSH within the normal range, the difference was not significant. The results of this study show that transferrin could be a useful marker of seminiferous tubular function but more work is needed to assess its relevance for clinical practice.     

不育男性精浆总抗氧化能力与精子运动功能的关系

目的:研究不育男性精浆总抗氧化能力(TAC)与精子运动能力和方式之间的关系,探讨精浆TAC水平在男性生育中的临床意义。方法:113例精子密度正常的不育男性,28例正常生育男性作为对照组。精液于37℃液化后采用计算机辅助精液分析(CASA)系统进行精液常规分析,采用比色法进行精浆TAC分析。结果:正常生育组精浆TAC为(19.82±6.33)U,不育男性精子密度正常组精浆TAC为(14.37±8.45)U,不育男性精子密度正常组与正常生育组比较存在显著性差异(P<0.01)。精浆TAC与a级精子百分率(r=0.208,P<0.05)和(a+b)级精子百分率(r=0.231,P<0.05)呈显著正相关,精浆TAC与精子运动参数中的前向性(r=0.200,P<0.05)、直线性(r=0.208,P<0.05)、曲线速度(r=0.189,P<0.05)、直线速度(r=0.210,P<0.05)、平均移动速度(r=0.215,P<0.05)及鞭打频率(r=-0.248,P<0.01)之间有显著的相关性,其中前向性、直线性、直线速度、曲线速度、平均移动速度与TAC呈正相关(P<0.05),而鞭打频率与TAC呈负相关(P<0.01)。精浆TAC与摆动性、侧摆幅度、平均移动角度之间无显著相关。结论:精浆中TAC水平与精子运动能力和运动方式密切相关,适宜的精浆TAC为精子运动提供了良好的外部环境,精浆中过低的TAC水平与精子运动能力下降和运动方式改变有关,可能是引起男性不育的病因之一。精浆中TAC分析可为探讨男性不育的发病机制以及临床用药提供依据。     

Seminal fibronectin-like antigen and transferrin concentrations in infertile and fertile men

Summary.  Fibronectin like antigen (Fn) and transferrin (Trs) levels were measured in the seminal plasma of 40 fertile and 102 infertile men. The concentrations of both proteins were significantly ( P <0.001) higher in the fertile controls compared to the infertile groups. The levels of Fn and Trs (mean value ± SEM) in the fertile men were 857.9 ± 9.8 μg ml^-1 and 164.0 ± 6.5 μg ml^-1, respectively; in the azoospermic men ( n = 17) 552.7 ± 24.65 μg ml^-1 and 20.7 ± 2.19 μg ml^-1, respectively; in the group of severe oligozoospermia ( n = 35) 568.34 ± 25.7 μg ml^-1 and 31.1 ± 4.18 μg ml^-1, respectively; in the moderate oligozoospermic group ( n = 8) 572.50 ± 47.9 μg ml^-1 and 43.4 ± 15.4 μg ml^-1 respectively, and in the asthenozoospermic group ( n = 26) 512.76 ± 40.4 μg ml^-1 and 47.0 ± 7.9 μg ml^-1, respectively. Of special interest was the finding from a group of 16 normospermic men (partners of couples with unexplained infertility) who showed significantly lower levels of Fn like antigen, 632.5 ± 26.9 μg ml^-1 ( P <0.001) and Trs 41.8 ± 6.94 μg ml^-1 ( P <0.0001) compared to normals. No correlation was found between Fn levels with either Trs or FSH levels or sperm count. In conclusion, our results indicate that male infertility is associated with changes in seminal plasma Fn like antigen concentrations and that it can be possibly used as an index of sperm fertilizing capacity.     

Testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone Concentrations in Human Seminal Plasma

Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were estimated by radioimmunoassay in human seminal plasma. Testosterone concentrations showed no significant differences between fertile and infertile semen samples, whereas DHT concentrations were significantly lower in azoospermic and oligozoospermic samples. It is concluded that testosterone derives essentially from the accessory sex glands, whereas DHT is mainly of testicular or epididymal origin. The low DHT concentrations found in seminal plasma of oligozoospermic and azoospermic patients is probably due to defective epididymal conversion of testosterone to DHT.     

精浆蛋白电泳分析的临床意义

目的为了初步了解男性精浆中的蛋白电泳谱以及蛋白谱与男性生育能力的相关关系。方法通过应用SPIFE3000全自动电泳分析仪对20例对照组(生育组)与140例观察组(不育组)的精浆进行蛋白分离(琼脂糖区带电泳法),建立其精浆蛋白质的特征电泳图谱,并进行对比分析。结果精浆蛋白经酸蓝染色后,区带清晰,从阳极到阴极分为A、B、C、D、E 5条带,电泳各区带百分比含量结果经方差分析,发现不育组与生育组A、C、D、E百分比含量变化有统计学意义(P<0.01),且无精子症患者精浆的蛋白谱有特异的"双峰"特点。结论精浆蛋白区带电泳分析可作为不育症的辅助诊断指标,且将是对男性不育诊断手段的有力补充。     

The relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase c.677TT genotype and oligozoospermia in infertile male patients living in the Trakya region of Turkey

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), the key enzyme of the folate metabolic pathway, has been reported to be five times more active in the testicles compared to other organs in adult mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MTHFR c.677C>T and c.1298A>C polymorphisms and infertility in nonobstructive azoospermic and oligozoospermic male patients living in the Trakya region of Turkey. The study population included 75 nonobstructive azoospermic and 62 oligozoospermic, nonconsanguineous patients who were referred to the Department of Medical Genetics of Trakya University between 01.03.2012 and 01.06.2013 due to infertility and who had been diagnosed based on clinical examinations and spermiograms. All of the patients had a normal karyotype without a Y chromosome microdeletion. Melting curve analysis with labelled probes and primers that were designed by the manufacturers and the real‐time polymerase chain reaction method were used. The MTHFR c.677TT genotype frequency in the oligozoospermic infertile male patient group was greater than that of the fertile control group [odds ratio (OR) = 2.675 (95% CI: 0.979–7.305), (P < 0.048)]. The MTHFR c.677TT genotype may be a genetic risk factor for oligozoospermic infertile male patients who live in the Trakya region of Turkey.     

精索静脉曲张不育与微量元素锌和镉关系的研究

本研究应用原子吸收光谱法 (AAS)测定 18例精索静脉曲张 (VC)不育患者和 14例正常生育的斜疝和或鞘膜积液患者外周静脉血、精索静脉血、精浆中的锌 (Zn)和镉 (Cd)的含量。结果表明 :精索静脉曲张不育患者精静脉血和精浆中Cd含量较对照组明显增高 (P <0 .0 1)、而精浆中的Zn含量较对照组明显减低 (P <0 .0 1)。此外 ,其精索静脉血和精浆中Cd/Zn比值与对照组也有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。提示Cd的增高可能是导致精索静脉曲张不育的原因之一     

Association study of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in FASLG, JMJDIA, LOC203413, TEX15, BRDT, OR2W3, INSR, and TAS2R38 genes with male infertility

Infertility is a major health problem today, affecting about 15% of couples trying to conceive a child. Impaired fertility of the male factor is causative in 20% of infertile couples and contributory in up to another 30%-40%. Based on association studies, an increasing number of gene polymorphisms have been proposed to modulate the efficiency of spermatogenesis. Here, we have investigated the possible association of 9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 8 different genes-FASLG, JMJDIA, LOC203413, TEX15, BRDT, OR2W3, INSR, and TAS2R38--with male infertility. We analyzed a total of 136 men with idiopathic infertility (60 azoospermic and 76 oligozoospermic) and 161 fertile controls. Our study group included individuals of different ethnic origin: 93 of the infertile men were Macedonians, 32 were Albanians, and 11 were of other origin. The control group was composed of 125 Macedonian and 36 Albanian men. The methodology included multiplex polymerase chain reaction/SNaPshot analyses, followed by capillary electrophoresis on an ABI3130 Genetic Analyzer. Of the 9 SNPs evaluated, 3 are significantly associated (P < .05) with male infertility: SNPs rs5911500 in LOC203413, rs3088232 in BRDT, and rs11204546 in OR2W3. SNP rs5911500 showed the strongest association with infertility among Albanians (P = .0001), whereas rs3088232 was most significantly associated with azoospermia among Macedonians (P = .0082). Moreover, the frequency of co-occurrence of LOC203413 minor T allele with either homozygosity or heterozygosity for the BRDT minor G allele was significantly higher among both azoospermic (6 of 60 [10%]; P = .0057; odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 8.83 [1.73-45.08]) and oligozoospermic (10 of 76 [13.2%]; P = .0002; odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 12.04 [2.57-56.47]) men in comparison with fertile controls (2 of 161 [1.2%]).