Enhancement of motility by treating spermatozoa with an antioxidant solution (Sperm-Fit(R)) following ejaculation

Abstract

Oxygen radical generation is known to be detrimental to sperm function, especially motility, through the lipid peroxidation of the membranes. Generation of reactive oxygen species can be induced by leukocyte contamination, sperm centrifugation and the presence of abnormal spermatozoa with excess residual cytoplasm. This study aims to evaluate the effect on sperm motility of incubation in an antioxidant-containing solution, during liquefaction and centrifugation. Thirty semen samples were each divided into two equal parts: one mixed with Tyrode's solution, the other with a salt solution containing antioxidants (Sperm-Fit; Ellios Bio-Media, Paris, France). All the procedures were identical in the two groups. The ratio of leukocytes to spermatozoa was significantly correlated with the motility after liquefaction and after a 24 h incubation in routine in-vitro fertilization (IVF) medium and with the number of motile spermatozoa recovered after Percoll preparation. Moreover, when this ratio was > or = 0.2, all motility parameters were lowered. Incubation with Sperm-Fit allowed a higher percentage of motility after Percoll preparation when the ratio was > or = 0.2 (48 +/- 5% versus 41 +/- 6% for Sperm-Fit and Tyrode's solution respectively; P < 0.05) and a greater number of motile spermatozoa recovered after Percoll preparation, whatever the ratio (3.2 +/- 1.0 x 10(6) versus 2.4 +/- 0.7 x 10(6) for Sperm-Fit and Tyrode's solution respectively when ratio > or = 0.2; 18.1 +/- 3.4 x 10(6) versus 14.4 +/- 2.9 x 10(6) for Sperm-Fit and Tyrode's solution respectively when ratio < 0.2; P < 0.05). These results show that incubation with antioxidants during liquefaction and centrifugation increases recovery of motile spermatozoa.

Sperm Oxidative Stress and the Effect of an Oral Vitamin E and Selenium Supplement on Semen Quality in Infertile Men

“…Numerous in vitro studies have reported beneficial effects of antioxidants as atocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and glutathione on inhibition of lipid peroxidation of plasma sperm membrane, on sperm DNA integrity, and on the capacity of fusion with oocyte in animal species [20][21][22]30]. The antioxidants also increase the tolerance to OS caused by the gamete congelation-decongelation process [8] and neutralizes the loss of motility caused by ROS generated by polymorphonuclear leukocytes [30].…”

“…The antioxidants also increase the tolerance to OS caused by the gamete congelation-decongelation process [8] and neutralizes the loss of motility caused by ROS generated by polymorphonuclear leukocytes [30].…”

“…In men, several therapeutic protocols have been tested to elucidate their effects on sperm quality and on sperm fecundity [15,27,30]. Numerous authors have demonstrated beneficial effects of antioxidant drugs on male fertility [25,36,40,42].…”

Reactive oxygen species and their influence on stallion semen fertility - a review

“…Ram spermatozoa specifically produce ROS using an amino acid oxidase that generates hydrogen peroxide and thus suppresses sperm motility (Upreti et al 1992). Centrifugation of semen and removal of 90% of seminal plasma has beneficial effects on sperm viability during cooled storage (Pickett et al 1975) but centrifugation does also increase the amount of ROS in semen (DeJager et al 1996, Parinaud et al 1997). …”

“…Low ROS levels also regulate physiological sperm functions (DeLamirande et al 1997, Sanocka andKurpisz 2004). Small amounts of free radicals in human semen stimulate sperm capacitation, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction and sperm oocyte fusion (Saran and Bors 1989, DeLamirande and Gagnon 1993a, Griveau and LeLannou 1997, DeLamirande et al 1998). An increase in extracellular superoxide anions is essential for capacitation (DeLamirande and Gagnon 1995) and low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide stimulate capacitation and hyperactivation (Bauskin et al 1991, Griveau et al 1994.…”