Serum oestradiol levels in male partners of infertile couples

A prospective clinical study was performed in the reproduction centre of Ichikawa General Hospital (Chiba, Japan) to investigate the relationship between sperm quality and serum oestradiol (E2) level in male partners of infertile couples. The semen parameters and blood samples were assessed in relation to several variables, including body mass index (BMI) and serum oestradiol (E2) levels. Four hundred and nine male partners of infertile couples aged 22–55 years (mean: 36.5 years) were referred to the reproduction centre. In total, 143 patients (35.0%) were included in the low E2 level group (18 pg ml^?1 ≥ E2). Serum E2 levels were slightly correlated with testosterone levels, BMI and serum FSH levels. Total motile sperm count and morphology were decreased in low E2 level group. In multivariate analysis, serum testosterone, E2 levels, existence of varicocele and age were risk factors for decreased semen quality. Serum E2 might be associated with BMI, serum testosterone level and spermatogenesis.     

Body mass index,waist‐to‐hip ratio,waist circumference and waist‐to‐height ratio cannot predict male semen quality: a report of 1231 subfertile Chinese men

There were controversial results between obesity‐associated markers and semen quality. In this study, we investigated the correlations between age, obesity‐associated markers including body mass index (BMI), waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC), the combination of age and obesity‐associated markers, semen parameters and serum reproductive hormone levels in 1231 subfertile men. The results showed that BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR were positively related to age, and there were also positive relations between BMI, WHR, WC and WHtR and between sperm concentration (SC), total sperm count (TSC), progressive motility (PR), sperm motility and per cent of normal sperm morphology (NSM). However, age, each of obesity‐associated markers and the combination of obesity‐associated markers and age were unrelated to any of semen parameters including total normal‐progressively motile sperm count (TNPMS). Age, BMI, WHR, WC and WHtR were negatively related to serum testosterone and SHBG levels. However, only serum LH and FSH levels were negatively related to sperm concentration, NSM and sperm motility. In a conclusion, although age and obesity have significant impacts on reproductive hormones such as testosterone, SHBG and oestradiol, semen parameters related to FSH and LH could not be influenced, indicating that obesity‐associated markers could not predict male semen quality.     

转铁蛋白水平与男性生育及睾丸足细胞功能的关系

目的：探讨转铁蛋白（Tf）水平与男性生育及睾丸足细胞功能的关系。方法收集临床男性不育症患者和正常生育者的精液标本,采用精子质量分析仪进行精子密度及活动率分析,并检测精液 Tf 水平;无菌切取大鼠睾丸,经胶原酶及透明质酸酶消化,分离出纯度较高的足细胞并培养,测定细胞培养液 Tf 水平;Tf 水平测定均采用免疫速率散射比浊法。结果男性不育症患者精液 Tf 水平[（15±5）μmol／L]低于正常生育者[（24．5±6．5）μmol／L,P ＜0．01],而且与精子密度和活动率呈正相关（P ＜0．01）。正常生育组大鼠睾丸足细胞悬液 Tf 水平[（25±8）μmol／L]高于不育组[（15±6）μmol／L,P ＜0．01]。结论精液 Tf 水平的测定可作为反映足细胞功能,评价曲细精管生精功能及精子质量的指标,对男性不育症的诊断、治疗具有重要的价值。     

The reference values for semen parameters of 1213 fertile men in Guangdong Province in China

Semen samples were collected from 1213 fertile men whose partners had a time-to-pregnancy (TTP) ≤12 months in Guangdong Province in Southern China, and semen parameters including semen volume, sperm concentration, total counts, motility, and morphology were evaluated according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 guideline. All semen parameters analyzed were normal in ~62.2% of the total samples, whereas ~37.8% showed at least one of the semen parameters below normal threshold values. The fifth centiles (with 95% confidence intervals) were 1.3 (1.2–1.5) ml for semen volume, 20 × 10⁶ (18×10⁶–20×10⁶) ml⁻¹ for sperm concentration, 40 × 10⁶ (38×10⁶–44×10⁶) per ejaculate for total sperm counts, 48% (47%–53%) for vitality, 39% (36%–43%) for total motility, 25% (23%–27%) for sperm progressive motility, 5.0% (4%–5%) for normal morphology. The pH values ranged from 7.2 to 8.0 with the mean ± standard deviation at 7.32 ± 0.17. No effects of age and body mass index were found on semen parameters. Occupation, smoking and alcohol abuse, varicocele appeared to decrease semen quality. Sperm concentration, but not sperm morphology, is positively correlated with TTP, whereas vitality is negatively correlated with TTP. Our study provides the latest reference values for the semen parameters of Chinese fertile men in Guangdong Province, which are close to those described in the new WHO guidelines (5^th Edition).     

Asymptomatic seminal infection of herpes simplex virus:impact on male infertility

In more than half of infertile men,the cause of their infertility is unknown.Several studies revealed the role of viral infections in male infertility.The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 in semen from asymptomatic infertile male patients,and its association with altered semen parameters.A total of 70 semen samples were collected from infertile men who attended the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility in Yazd,Iran.Semen analysis and diagnostic real-time PCR using specific primers and probes for HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA were performed.Comparison of semen parameters between virally infected and non-infected samples were performed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test.Semen analysis showed that infertile men fell into two groups,the male factor group and the unexplained group.HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA was detected in 16 (22.9%) and 10 (14.3%) of 70 semen samples,respectively.All HSV-positive samples had abnormal semen parameters (the male factor group).Although HSV infection was not associated with sperm motility and morphological defects,it was correlated with lower sperm count in the seminal fluid.The findings suggest that asymptomatic seminal infection of HSV plays an important role in male infertility by adversely affecting sperm count.     

Environmental mercury exposure,semen quality and reproductive hormones in Greenlandic Inuit and European men: a cross-sectional study

Several animal studies indicate that mercury is a male reproductive toxicant, but human studies are few and contradictory. We examined semen characteristics and serum levels of reproductive hormones in relation to environmental exposure to mercury. Blood and semen samples were collected from 529 male partners of pregnant women living in Greenland, Poland and Ukraine between May 2002 and February 2004. The median concentration of the total content of mercury in whole blood was 9.2 ng ml⁻¹ in Greenland (0.2–385.8 ng ml⁻¹), 1.0 ng ml⁻¹ in Poland (0.2–6.4 ng ml⁻¹) and 1.0 ng ml⁻¹ in Ukraine (0.2–4.9 ng ml⁻¹). We found a significantly positive association between the blood levels of mercury and serum concentration of inhibin B in men from Greenland (β=0.074, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.021 to 0.126) and in an analysis including men from all three regions (β=0.067, 95% CI=0.024 to 0.110). The association may be due to beneficial effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are contained in seafood and fish. No significant association (P>0.05) was found between blood concentrations of mercury and any of the other measured semen characteristics (semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, morphology and motility) and reproductive hormones (free androgen index (FAI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and LH×testosterone) in any region. In conclusion, the findings do not provide evidence that environmental mercury exposure in Greenlandic and European men with median whole blood concentration up to 10 ng ml⁻¹ has adverse effects on biomarkers of male reproductive health.     

胞浆小滴可能是精子运动和正常精子形成的标志

哺乳动物生精过程后期精细胞胞浆脱落后,有一个微小部分经常会残留于精子鞭毛上,被称为胞浆小滴。胞浆小滴被认为在精子体积的调整中起到重要作用。然而,我们观察到含有胞浆小滴的精子大多显示出运动活力,而不含有胞浆小滴的精子则鲜有运动活力,说明在附睾成熟过程中胞浆小滴的存在对精子运动起重要作用。在本研究中,我们分析了小鼠及猴的精子在附睾成熟期间含有及不含有胞浆小滴的精子运动能力获得的关系,以及胞浆小滴在精子尾部位置的改变的关系。我们也检测了3种晚期精子生成缺陷基因敲除小鼠的精子胞浆小滴。我们的数据显示胞浆小滴是暂时存在于附睾精子上的正常附属器官,正常的胞浆小滴形态及位置与精子附睾成熟过程中正常的运动能力形成相关。胞浆小滴的异常形成,胞浆小滴的缺失或者异常的胞浆小滴预示着精子形成缺陷。如果胞浆小滴是精子运动形成的基础,那么胞浆小滴可以成为非激素类男性避孕药的理想的药物靶点。     

Semen quality and reproductive endocrinal function related to blood lead levels in infertile painters

Lead causes male reproductive impairment among painters, but information is still limited. Therefore, the effect of lead on semen quality and reproductive endocrinal function in those patients was investigated. A case series of 27 infertile painters were subjected to semen analysis, measuring of blood lead level (PbB) and serum levels of endocrinal parameters including follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and prolactin (PRL). Significantly lower sperm count and motility were found in those with duration of exposure (≥15 years), but no significant difference was found for PbB and serum levels of FSH, LH, PRL and T. A significant negative correlation between PbB and spermatic count and motility was observed, while there was no significant correlation between PbB and all endocrinal parameters. Patients with PbB ≥ 20 μg dl^?1 showed a significant decrease in sperm motility and increase in testosterone alone among all measured hormones. But the observed decrease in sperm count did not reach a significant level. It is concluded that infertile painters are at risk of lead‐related influence on semen quality, especially sperm motility and increased testosterone level without significant affection of other reproductive endocrinal parameters.     

绵羊细管冻精推广应用的前景

本文介绍了绵羊细管冻精的优点与应用现状,认为有必要重新审视绵羊细管冻精所具有的独特产品优势,及对绵羊特别是肉羊的品种改良与优质羊肉生产将产生的积极作用,建议在全疆范围内推广应用绵羊细管冻精技术,并就该技术在推广应用中可能面临的主要问题提出了解决方法。     

宁泌泰胶囊联合地红霉素肠溶片治疗解脲脲原体阳性精液不液化症临床研究

目的观察宁泌泰胶囊联合地红霉素肠溶片治疗精液解脲脲原体(Uu)培养阳性精液不液化症的临床疗效。方法将精液Uu培养阳性的精液不液化症患者120例按2∶1比例随机分为治疗组80例,对照组40例,连续用药2周为1个疗程,观察2个疗程。治疗组口服宁泌泰胶囊4粒/次,3次/d,同时口服地红霉素肠溶片0.5 g/次,1次/d,均饭后服用,对照组仅口服地红霉素肠溶片。主要观察Uu转阴率、精液液化时间,并观察不良反应。结果治疗2周、4周后治疗组和对照组Uu转阴率分别为72.5%、95.0%和55.0%、92.5%,治疗2周后治疗组转阴率明显高于对照组(P0.05),总的转阴率两组比较无统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗组和对照组精液液化时间治疗前分别为(76.19±14.13)、(77.08±13.34)min,治疗2周后分别为(58.64±13.15)、(67.12±12.52)min,治疗4周后分别为(48.64±12.38)、(56.12±12.86)min,两组治疗前后精液液化时间比较差异显著(P0.05),组间比较治疗组明显优于对照组(P0.01)。结论宁泌泰胶囊联合地红霉素肠溶片能部分缩短Uu转阴的时间,明显缩短精液液化时间,对Uu阳性精液不液化症有明显的临床疗效。