Evaluation of the role of reactive oxygen species in male infertility

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from spermatozoa has been measured by chemiluminescence in the two fractions of a Percoll gradient column (47 and 90%). Chemiluminescent signals were recorded in each fraction after the addition of luminol and horse-radish peroxidase (basal state), and after stimulation with formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and phorbol ester (PMA). Oligozoospermic samples show a higher rate of ROS production than the normozoospermic samples in both fractions of Percoll. Also, ROS were generated at a higher rate by asthenozoospermic samples in the 90% Percoll fraction than by normal samples after stimulation with PMA. Our data confirm that fact that white blood cells play a major role in the production of ROS, even after purification on a Percoll gradient. Immunological cases were also found to be associated with an increased production of ROS, which may be caused by the same underlying pathological condition responsible for the production of the antibodies. Repeated centrifugation of the samples triggers a burst of ROS in excess of that produced after Percoll preparation. In addition, superoxide dismutase activity was found to be significantly increased in cases with an elevated production of ROS. It is concluded that measuring the ROS generation by semen may yield useful information on the functional capacity of spermatozoa, which may be used to improve the success of male infertility management.

Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay: Its Clinical Use for Detecting Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Male Infertility and Comparisons With Other Techniques

“…The potentially compromised spermatozoa from these patients can be further damaged during their preparation for ART procedures in which ROS can be enhanced and unregulated, which causes further iatrogeneic damage to sperm chromatin structure. ROS production may be enhanced 20-to 50-fold during repeated centrifugation steps, a technique still used in some clinics to prepare spermatozoa for ART (Aitken and Clarkson, 1988;Zalata et al, 1995). In addition, sperm preparation for ART could lead to unregulated ROS production when spermatozoa are separated from seminal plasma, thereby eliminating the seminal plasma's antioxidant protection afforded by superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase/reductase (Griveau and LeLannou, 1997).…”

Activity of antioxidant enzymes in seminal plasma and their relationship with lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa

“…There is growing evidence that lipid peroxida�lini�al Urology �lini�al Urology tion damage to the plasma membrane of spermatozoa plays an important role in the mechanism of male infertility (4)(5)(6). The toxic lipid peroxides are known to cause various impairments of the sperm cell, such as membrane damage and decrease in motility (7,8).…”

The Levels of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Rats as a Response to Different Techniques of Testicular Biopsy

“…Semen analysis shows that fertile males have higher antioxidant capacity than infertile controls. This event indicates that impaired antioxidant capacity may play a key role in fertility disorders [25,26]. ROS are postulated to be mediators of damage to spermatozoa and are related to decreased motility, abnormal morphology and reduced capacity for sperm-oocyte penetration [26].…”