Abstract:Semen liquefaction is a proteolytic process where a gel-like ejaculated semen becomes watery due to the enzymatic activity of prostate-derived serine proteases in the female reproductive tract. The liquefaction process is crucial for the sperm to gain their motility and successful transport to the fertilization site in Fallopian tubes (or oviducts in animals). Hyperviscous semen or failure in liquefaction is one of the causes of male infertility. Therefore, the biochemical inhibition of serine proteases in the… Show more
“…The subsequent cleavage action of prostate-specific antigen (also known as kallikrein-related peptidase 3 or KLK3) and other prostate proteins breaks the SEMG-based structure that re-assembles into amyloid fibrils. As a consequence of this process, called liquefaction, semen becomes watery and spermatozoa gain their motility [22] (figure 2). Figure 2Cartoon of the liquefaction process.…”
Section: Seminal Fluid and Its Characterizationmentioning
Infertility affects 15% of couples of reproductive age worldwide. In spite of many advances in understanding and treating male infertility, there is still a number of issues that need further investigation and translation to the clinic. Here, we review the current knowledge and practice concerning semen rheology and its relation with pathological states affecting male infertility. Although it is well recognized that altered rheological properties of semen can impair normal sperm movement in the female reproductive tract, routine semen analysis is mostly focused on number, motility and morphology of spermatozoa, and includes only an approximate, operator-dependent measure of semen viscosity. The latter is based on the possible formation of a liquid thread from a pipette where a semen sample has been aspirated, a method that is sensitive not only to viscosity but also to elongational properties and surface tension of semen. The formation of a liquid thread is usually associated with a gel-like consistency of the sample and changes in spermatozoa motility in such a complex medium are still to be fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to point out that a more quantitative and reliable characterization of semen rheology is in order to improve the current methods of semen analysis and to develop additional tools for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
“…The subsequent cleavage action of prostate-specific antigen (also known as kallikrein-related peptidase 3 or KLK3) and other prostate proteins breaks the SEMG-based structure that re-assembles into amyloid fibrils. As a consequence of this process, called liquefaction, semen becomes watery and spermatozoa gain their motility [22] (figure 2). Figure 2Cartoon of the liquefaction process.…”
Section: Seminal Fluid and Its Characterizationmentioning
Infertility affects 15% of couples of reproductive age worldwide. In spite of many advances in understanding and treating male infertility, there is still a number of issues that need further investigation and translation to the clinic. Here, we review the current knowledge and practice concerning semen rheology and its relation with pathological states affecting male infertility. Although it is well recognized that altered rheological properties of semen can impair normal sperm movement in the female reproductive tract, routine semen analysis is mostly focused on number, motility and morphology of spermatozoa, and includes only an approximate, operator-dependent measure of semen viscosity. The latter is based on the possible formation of a liquid thread from a pipette where a semen sample has been aspirated, a method that is sensitive not only to viscosity but also to elongational properties and surface tension of semen. The formation of a liquid thread is usually associated with a gel-like consistency of the sample and changes in spermatozoa motility in such a complex medium are still to be fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to point out that a more quantitative and reliable characterization of semen rheology is in order to improve the current methods of semen analysis and to develop additional tools for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
“…Therefore, inhibition of several acrosomal enzymes has been proposed to cause the seminal plasma's reversible antifertility impact. According to several reports conducted on various species, including cattle, seminal plasma may contain elements that affect male fertility (Anamthathmakula and Winuthayanon, 2020). According to Bansal et al (2023), these elements are generally thought to suppress sperm capacitation, the acrosome reaction, or acrosomal enzymes and eventually obstruct fertilization.…”
Preservation of the livestock genetic makeup could be performed by application of in vitro fertilization (IVF) using spermatozoa collected from cauda epididymis. Therefore, this study as sessed the development of goat embryos following IVF of spermatozoa collected from cauda epididy mis compared to those kept frozen. Oocytes were in vitro cultured in a maturation medium for 24 hours at a temperature of 38.5°C, 5% CO2, and 95% humidity. Following maturation, the oocytes (n = 370) were in vitro fertilized by fresh epididymal sperm (G1) and G2 frozen-thawed sperm, and the Fert-TALP medium was used as the IVF medium. In addition, in vitro developed embryos were cultured in GT-L medium. The fertilization rate, percentage of morula, and blastocytes (p<0.01) were significantly higher in oocytes inseminated with epididymal than in frozen sperm. In conclusion, in vitro embryo production of goat oocytes may be successfully performed using epididymal spermatozoa for IVF.
“…Seminal plasma, a complex fluid containing a diverse array of proteins, lipids, hormones, and other bioactive compounds, is a vital medium that supports and controls several elements of the male reproductive process. Βiomarkers in this milieu can help diagnose, predict, and treat reproductive health problems [ 2 ]. They serve as molecular indicators of physiological states, pathological disorders, or responses to environmental factors [ 3 ].…”
Infertility represents a significant global health challenge impacting millions of couples worldwide. Approximately half of all infertile couples exhibit compromised semen quality, indicative of diminished male fertility. While the diagnosis of male infertility traditionally relies on semen analysis, its limitations in providing a comprehensive assessment of male reproductive health have spurred efforts to identify novel biomarkers. Seminal plasma, a complex fluid containing proteins, lipids, and metabolites, has emerged as a rich source of such indicators. Reproduction depends heavily on seminal plasma, the primary transporter of chemicals from male reproductive glands. It provides a non-invasive sample for urogenital diagnostics and has demonstrated potential in the identification of biomarkers linked to illnesses of the male reproductive system. Τhe abundance of seminal proteins has enabled a deeper understanding of their biological functions, origins, and differential expression in various conditions associated with male infertility, including azoospermia, asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia, among others. The true prevalence of male infertility is understated due to the limitations of the current diagnostic techniques. Τhis review critically evaluates the current landscape of seminal plasma biomarkers and their utility in assessing male infertility. Βy bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, the integrative assessment of seminal plasma biomarkers offers a multimodal approach to comprehensively evaluate male infertility.
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