Pattern of Some Sperm Proteins, Anti-oxidants, Testosterone, and Prostate-Specific Antigen of Infertile Males with Sperm Cell Deformities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Abstract

Aim: Infertility is a global problem affecting both males and females. It is a condition with psychological, economic, and medical implications resulting in trauma and stress, particularly in a society where there is a strong emphasis on childbearing. The study therefore aims to investigate the pattern of some sperm proteins, anti-oxidants, and prostate-specific antigen in the seminal plasma of infertile males with sperm cell deformities.
 Study Design: The study is a case-control study designed to investigate semen parameters and sperm proteins in infertile males with sperm cell deformities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. However, some of the Laboratory investigations were done in the Chemical Pathology Unit and Medical Microbiology Unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. The Study was between the periods of September 2019 and Feb. 2022.
 Methodology: A total of 276 males indicated interest to participate in the study of which 193 male subjects were recruited. These subjects were grouped into normospermic males (100), azoospermic (40) and oligospermic males (53). Based on their sperm cell morphology and active motility, they were further classified into asthenozoospermic (40), oligoasthenozoospermic (48), teratozoospermic (26), asthenoteratozoospermic (32), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (22). HSP70, PKA, MDA, TAC, and GPX (in seminal plasma), PSA, and testosterone (in serum) were analyzed using ELISA while TAC was done using spectrophotometric methods. Results obtained were statistically analyzed using GraphPad Prism and SPSS.
 Results: Sperm motility, TSC, and normal sperm morphology were poor in oligospermic subjects but were very severe in OAT subjects. Sperm proteins were altered in subjects with abnormal sperm cell morphologies. HSP70 and PKA were significantly increased while OPN, TAC, and GPX were significantly decreased in the seminal plasma of infertile males with abnormal sperm cells. Testosterone and PSA in blood plasma were significantly lower and higher respectively.
 Conclusion: Oxidative stress played a significant role in sperm cell deformities and fertility. OAT subjects were the most affected.

Evidence-based assessment of male-only infertility: prevalence and associated risk factors in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…In a related work, Aworu et al reported antioxidant levels such as TAC and GPX of subjects with bacterial infections, azoospermia, and oligozoospermia were significantly lowered in seminal plasma linking it to oxidative stress-related mechanisms. 3 This finding also concurs with the findings of Waheed et al, Parrish and Fraczek et al 24,29 They all reported lower values of GPX and TAC in azoospermic and oligospermic subjects in their studies. The limitation associated with the study is that most of the males attending fertility clinics are naïve to submit to this investigation.…”

“…2 Infertility has further been more comprehensively defined as the inability of a couple (not above 35 years) to achieve and sustain a pregnancy to delivery after at least 2-3 times weekly unprotected, penetrative, and ejaculatory vaginal intercourse over 12 months with an adult of the opposite sex. 3 Following this definition, implies that infertility among couples is also a function of age. In order words, it will be misleading to classify couples in their mid-forties and above infertile Infertility is grouped into primary and secondary infertility.…”

“…10,11 The assessment of the male factor infertility using semen analysis is inexpensive, objective, and readily available. 3 Therefore, semen analysis plays a vital role in evaluation of male factor infertility and it is usually the initial aspect of investigations in understanding the cause of infertility in males. 6,12 There are several causes of male infertility in the majority of cases but some cases especially those bothering around abnormal semen parameters are not completely known.…”

“…Tuberculosis, gonococcal and chlamydia infections are also common factors frequently encountered in Port Harcourt as etiologies associated with male infertility. 3,12 More so, bilateral viral orchitis has also been reported to induce infertility through the process of inducing poor sperm parameters like non-progressive motility and teratozoospermic morphologies in males, especially after 12 years of age. Another factor implicated in male infertility is varicocele.…”