Prostaglandin (PG) E and 19-OH PGE, now considered to be the most important of the human seminal prostaglandins, were assayed in infertile and normal men. In the 15 volunteers PGE and 19-OH PGE levels were 23-89 microgram/ml, respectively. In the 4 groups of infertile patients in whom either PGE or 19-OH PGE levels were increased or decreased with respect to normal, sperm concentration and motility were significantly reduced. The negative effects of low levels of seminal prostaglandins on sperm concentration and motility might be correlated respectively with decreased adenylcyclase and testicular androgen activity. The negative effects of high levels of prostaglandins on the seminal fluid might be due either to an inhibition in testicular DNA synthesis or to a decreased sensitivity of the receptors to high titers of prostaglandins.

Alprostadil↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prolactin secreting adenoma in man and the role of prolactin in spermatogenesis.

The case of a 23-year-old man with a pituitary prolactin secreting adenoma is described. With the exception of prolactin all endocrinological parameters were normal. This finding provided an ideal opportunity to assess the role of prolactin on spermatogenesis. Sperm analysis and light microscopy examination of testicular biopsy showed normal spermatogenesis. Electron microscopic studies of the testicular specimen revealed the presence of undivided spermatids, containing two or more nuclei, partially embedded in a developing common acrosome. Morphological studies demonstrated a constant "paired" situation. In most instances two sperms were contained in a single membrane; no single sperm was detected. Following treatment with 5 mg/day bromocriptine prolactin levels decreased and this peculiar abnormality disappeared. In fact, after 2 months of treatment the sperm abnormalities were markedly reduced, whereas no change was found after a period of 120 days. Since this was the only alteration found in the patient with high prolactin levels, a correlation was sought between prolactin levels and cell division. Considering the similarities between prolactin and growth hormone, it might be possible to attribute to prolactin a growth hormone role in the germinal epithelium. This action could be either direct or indirect via an intermediate growth factor.

Adenoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lipids of the sperm plasma membrane: from polyunsaturated fatty acids considered as markers of sperm function to possible scavenger therapy.

This article is, in part, a review of present knowledge regarding the lipid metabolism of the sperm cell and the lipid composition of the sperm plasma membrane. It is also a summary of our research on this topic, reporting published and unpublished data. The article tries to cover both basic and clinical research. Sperm cells use lipid metabolic pathways for the production of part of their energy. The double leaflets of the membrane are not simply a passive, bilayer, lipidic film in which the receptors receive their molecular specific signals, but are a very specialized structure. Complete maturation of the lipids of the sperm cell membrane is reached after passage of the spermatozoon through the epididymis. A specific composition of phospholipids and a significant concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been shown to be present in sperm membranes. Plasmalogen is a special kind of phospholipid found exclusively in spermatozoa and other cells with the capacity to react promptly to stimuli. In addition, we have found a high concentration of the n-3 PUFA family in the sperm membrane. Seminal plasma has a highly specialized scavenger system that defends the sperm membrane against lipoperoxidation. Various pathologies and systemic predisposition can lead to an antioxidant/pro-oxidant disequilibrium. Clinical trials with natural scavengers could be a useful research area in which to seek a treatment for these pathologies. Of the natural scavengers, glutathione has been shown to restore the physiological constitution of PUFA in the cell membrane under certain conditions.

Biomarkers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Antisperm immunity in natural and assisted reproduction.

Research conducted in the last 40 years has provided evidence that antisperm antibodies (ASA) can impair the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa. It is established that ASA can be present at different sites, can act against different antigens and can impair fertility in various ways. In fact, in the past it was amply demonstrated that ASA can act negatively on sperm motility and on cervical mucus penetration. In recent years, owing to the improvement and spreading of IVF techniques, it has been possible to demonstrate the effect of antibody-bound spermatozoa at the level of in-vitro gamete interaction. The literature demonstrates that the various previously used treatments for immunological infertility, i.e. medical therapy, intrauterine insemination with husband's spermatozoa (AIH) and IVF, usually had poor success. The primary choice of treatment in immunological infertility, especially in the most severe cases and when the sperm head is involved, is ICSI. ASA evaluation in all couples who undergo the various techniques of insemination or IVF is imperative.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Results of investigations on seminal fluid in so-called oligospermiogenesis.

Diagnosis of ligospermiogenesis was made in 76 infertile subjects submitted to testicular biopsy. Histological examinations demonstrated a reduction in mature spermatids (Sc. Sd.-Clermont classification) in the tubular sections. Comparison of histological data with findings from seminal fluid analyses in these subjects revealed: a) a pathological seminal fluid pattern in all cases of oligospermiogenesis, b) these patients may show either an azoospermic or oligozoospermic seminal fluid pattern; statistical analyses confirmed an almost equal distribution of the two conditions.

Cell Count↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cell-mediated antisperm immunity in selected forms of male infertility.

Leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMT) with semipurified spermatozoal antigen was carried out in two groups: normal males (fertile subjects before vasectomy; normal volunteers) and selected forms of male infertility. The percent positivity to the LMT in all the pathological groups considered, compared with controls positivity in only one out of 40 cases and only at the highest concentrations of Ag, stresses the important role played by cell-mediated antisperm immunity in male infertility. No characteristic seminal pattern was observed in the patients with positive LMT, probably on account of the particular selection of the patients studied. Finally, no significant correlation between humoral and cell-mediated antisperm immunity was observed, at least not in these selected series of patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoglobulins in human seminal plasma.

Single radial immunodiffusion has been used to evaluate immunoglobulins and secretory piece (SP) in human seminal plasma. Samples were collected from 90 healthy volunteers, 202 subjects submitted to vasectomy for contraceptive purposes, tested at various intervals after surgery, and 725 patients grouped according to selected andrological disorders. Results may be summarized as follows. In normal subjects IgG and IgA were constantly present (mean values +/- SD: 8.14 +/- 2.82 mg/dl; 1.91 +/- 1.03 mg/dl, respectively) while IgM were detected in trace amounts (from 0.7 to 3.3 mg/dl) in 10% of subjects, and negligible or absent in the remaining subjects. In vasectomized subjects IgG and IgA showed a significant increase only in the first 3 months after vasectomy, probably due to surgery. In andrological patients Ig showed an increase in cases with antisperm antibodies (A b) and in those with infections of genital tract and positive semen culture. On the basis of these findings and the secretory piece assay data the importance appears to be stressed of the local immunocompetent system at least in some andrological diseases.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vasectomy: study of circulating immune-complexes and its correlation with antisperm immunity in man, with a twelve-month follow-up study.

Circulating immune-complexes (CIC) have been detected in sera of vasectomized subjects using the Clq Binding Assay. Results seem to indicate that CIC are a feature of the early post-operative period and a consequence of acute immunization against sperm antigens. The progressive disappearance of CIC from the third month after vasectomy with the simultaneous increase in antisperm antibody percentage and titre suggests that CIC could be a temporary feature in vasectomized men and do not lead to a chronic disease, related to a Type III immune reaction.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Glycerylphosphorylcholine in selected forms of male infertility.

GPC was studied in the seminal plasma of 35 normozoospermic men, 34 cases of azoospermia due to bilateral deferent obstruction, 34 cases of azoospermia due to bilateral ejaculatory duct obstruction, 10 vasectomized patients, 6 vasectomized patients after vasovasostomy and 118 cases of spermatogenetic arrest without obstruction of the seminal ducts. Values of GPC in azoospermia due to deferent or ejaculatory ducts obstruction and to vasectomy are significantly lower than in normozoospermic subjects (p less than 0.001). Levels of GPC increased (p less than 0.05) following vasovasostomy. Although GPC values in secretory azoospermia were higher than those in cases of duct obstruction, they were still lower than in normozoospermic (p less than 0.001). The most likely source of GPC is the epididymis. These results support the assumption that GPC originates mainly in the epididymis. The absence of germinal cells in the epididymis could explain the decreased levels of GPC in azoospermia due to arrest of spermatogenesis.

Citrates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Adenosine 5 triphosphate (ATP) content and acrosin activity in polyzoospermic subjects.

The aim of this paper was to measure the concentration of spermatic ATP and acrosin in a group of patients with polyzoospermia, and to compare these values with those found in a group of normozoospermic men. The general characteristics of the semen, the ATP and the acrosin, were measured in a group of 46 men with polyzoospermia, who consulted in our clinic for sterility. The results were compared with those of 50 normozoospermic men in the control group. Statistically, no significant difference was found between the volume, motility and morphology of the samples in both groups; however, the concentration of spermatic ATP and acrosin decreased significantly in a group of polyzoospermic patients. This could be due to a functional defect of the spermatozoa in this group of patients.

Acrosin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radio-immuno binding test for anti-sperm antibody detection: analysis and critical revision of various methodological steps.

The authors report the results of a methodological study to optimize a radioimmunoassay to detect anti-sperm antibodies. They describe here the definitive methodology with all the data relating to the laboratory trials conducted at each step of the technique. Results seem to demonstrate that this radioimmunological method is sufficiently simple, specific, sensitive and reliable for use in a highly specialized laboratory of reproductive immunology. Furthermore, this type of analytical approach, whilst indicating once more the difficulty of the technical study of anti-sperm autoimmunity, confirms (with concrete data) the necessity of being extremely "prudent" in evaluating the results of this kind of anti-sperm antibody test.

Agglutination Tests↗