Decreased seminal plasma antioxidant activity and increased reactive oxygen species production can be responsible for idiopathic male infertility.

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In the present study, the in vitro effects of peroxynitrite on sperm motility, lipid peroxidation and sulfhydryl content were examined. Sperm percentage motility and movement characteristics were assessed by a computer-assisted system. Lipid peroxidation was measured by determining malondialdehyde levels using the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method. Sperm sulfhydryl content was measured by a spectrophotometric method based on reduction of 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) by sulfhydryl groups. Percentage motility, movement characteristics and sulfhydryl content decreased significantly in peroxynitrite-treated samples compared to decomposed peroxynitrite-treated samples. Lipid peroxidation in peroxynitrite-treated samples was significantly higher than in decomposed peroxynitrite-treated samples. These results indicate that peroxynitrite anion may cause sperm dysfunction through lipid peroxidation stimulation and total SH depletion.

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