Positive association between cholesterol in human seminal plasma and sperm counts: results from a cross‐sectional cohort study and immunohistochemical investigations

Neergaard, Rosanna de; Nielsen, John; Jørgensen, Anne; Toft, Birgitte Groenkaer; Goetze, Jens P.; Jørgensen, Niels

doi:10.1111/andr.12532

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…An investigation of the lipid composition of human semen showed a significant higher cholesterol sulfate/seminolipid ratio in semen of oligoasthenozoospermic patients than in subjects with normal motility values (Lopalco et al, 2019). In line with the above reported data, another study showed that the cholesterol level in seminal plasma was positively associated with sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and morphology, but there was no association between serum cholesterol and the tested semen parameters (de Neergaard et al, 2018). The positive associations in that study were observed in men with normal serum cholesterol levels, and there was no association between serum and seminal plasma levels of cholesterol.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Study of Semen Quality, Reproductive Hormone Levels, and Lipid Levels in Men From Arkhangelsk, a City in North of European Russia

et al. 2020

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Male populations in the European North of Russia have not previously been investigated for semen quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate semen parameters, reproductive hormone levels, and lipid levels in volunteers from the general urban population of the European North of Russia, to compare the data published for men from the neighboring Northern or Eastern European countries, and to evaluate associations between sperm quality and serum hormonal and lipid levels. Ninety-nine volunteers aged 23–63 years residing in the city of Archangelsk were enrolled in the study. All men had blood samples drawn and completed a questionnaire concerning their health status and lifestyle; 90 men delivered semen samples. The medians for semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, and normal morphology were 3.0 ml, 42.12 million/ml, 43.8%, and 6.5%, respectively. Sperm parameters below normal threshold values were found in 38.9% of participants. It seems that the sperm quality in our study group was slightly worse than in men from Finland, Norway, Sweden, or Estonia, but very similar to that in men from Denmark or Poland. The significant negative correlations of luteinizing hormone levels and positive correlations of inhibin B levels with sperm concentration and progressive motility were revealed. Higher levels of luteinizing hormone and lower levels of inhibin B were found in participants with impaired compared to normal sperm quality. No reliable links were found between serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and semen parameters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Study of Semen Quality, Reproductive Hormone Levels, and Lipid Levels in Men From Arkhangelsk, a City in North of European Russia

et al. 2020

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“…In the case of the epididymis we observed that DG alone or in combination showed significant differences with respect to ND and HD, and the ATV showed significant differences alone and in combination with respect to ND and HD, so it seems that DG reduces the transport of cholesterol towards the epididymis. It is known that there may be variations in the transport of cholesterol towards the epididymis under certain conditions; for example, during spermatogenesis, cholesterol transport is increased [32]. The mechanisms that regulate the transport of cholesterol to the epididymis are not fully understood, however it is known that the ABCA1 transporter is the main transporter of cholesterol in this tissue [33] so DG and ATV could modify the expression of this protein and therefore change the amount of cholesterol that is concentrated in epididymis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the kidney, a significant difference was observed in the EZT group compared to HD group. EZT increases the concentration of cholesterol in the kidney compared to HD, but shows similar concentrations to ND, so apparently with high concentrations of cholesterol it is distributed mainly to the liver, suggesting that under these conditions EZT could have a role in the regulation of cholesterol in the kidney [32,33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined Effect of Diosgenin Along with Ezetimibe or Atorvastatin on the Fate of Labelled Bile Acid and Cholesterol in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Marín-Medina

Ruíz-Hidalgo

Blé-Castillo

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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We analyzed the effect of diosgenin, administered with atorvastatin or ezetimibe, on the fate of 3H(G)-taurocholic acid or 26-14C-cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic rats. Male Wistar rats received a hypercholesterolemic diet (HD), HD + atorvastatin (HD+ATV), HD + ezetimibe (HD+EZT), HD + diosgenin (HD+DG), HD+ATV+EZT, or HD+ATV+DG for 40 days. We also included a control normal group (ND). The labelled compounds were administered on day 30. The animals were placed in metabolic cages for daily feces collection. At day 40 the rats were sacrificed. Lipid extracts from blood, liver, spinal cord, testicles, kidneys, epididymis, intestine, and feces were analyzed for radioactivity. Cholesterol activity was the highest in the liver in HD rats. DG diminished one half of this activity in HD+DG and HD+ATV+DG groups in comparison with the HD group. HD+ATV rats showed four to almost ten-fold cholesterol activity in the spinal cord compared with the ND or HD rats. Fecal elimination of neutral steroids was approximately two-fold higher in the HD+DG and HD+ATV+DG groups. Taurocholic acid activity was four to ten-fold higher in HD+DG intestine as compared to the other experimental groups. Taurocholic activity in the liver of HD and HD+DG groups was two and a half higher than in ND. Our results show that the combination of DG and ATV induced the highest cholesterol reduction in the liver and other tissues.

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“…Therefore, any abnormality in cholesterol metabolism or phospholipid regulation could potentially impact male fertility [38,69]. Higher dietary cholesterol intake modifies spermatozoa quality in a negative manner in rodent studies [70] although more recently in human studies of seminal plasma, analysis suggests higher serum cholesterol levels are associated with favourable semen parameters [71,72]. Ultimately, a delicate balance, which is tightly regulated in the testis, is likely to be important.…”

Section: Cholesterol Somatic Cells and Germ Cell Maturationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liver X Receptors and Male (In)fertility

Jarvis

Williamson

Bevan

2019

IJMS

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Liver X receptors (LXRs) are ligand-dependent transcription factors acting as ‘cholesterol sensors’ to regulate lipid homeostasis in cells. The two isoforms, LXRα (NR1H3) and LXRβ (NR1H2), are differentially expressed, with the former expressed predominantly in metabolically active tissues and the latter more ubiquitously. Both are activated by oxidised cholesterol metabolites, endogenously produced oxysterols. LXRs have important roles in lipid metabolism and inflammation, plus a number of newly emerging roles. They are implicated in regulating lipid balance in normal male reproductive function and may provide a link between male infertility and lipid disorders and/or obesity. Studies from Lxr knockout mouse models provide compelling evidence to support this. More recently published data suggest distinct and overlapping roles of the LXR isoforms in the testis and recent evidence of a role for LXRs in human male fertility. This review summarises the current literature and explores the likely link between LXR, lipid metabolism and male fertility as part of a special issue on Liver X receptors in International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

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Positive association between cholesterol in human seminal plasma and sperm counts: results from a cross‐sectional cohort study and immunohistochemical investigations

Abstract: Cholesterol level in seminal plasma may be an indicator of semen quality. Investigations are needed to corroborate or refute our findings and to clarify the exact role of cholesterols for semen quality.

Cited by 21 publications

References 46 publications

Study of Semen Quality, Reproductive Hormone Levels, and Lipid Levels in Men From Arkhangelsk, a City in North of European Russia

Study of Semen Quality, Reproductive Hormone Levels, and Lipid Levels in Men From Arkhangelsk, a City in North of European Russia

Combined Effect of Diosgenin Along with Ezetimibe or Atorvastatin on the Fate of Labelled Bile Acid and Cholesterol in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Liver X Receptors and Male (In)fertility

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