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PubMed1984

Semen selenium and human fertility.

Selenium (Se) was measured in the semen of 125 men from couples consulting for infertility. A mean concentration of 71.3 +/- 29.7 ng/ml of semen was found, with a range of 7 to 230 ng/ml. More than 85% of the Se is in the seminal plasma. There was a significant positive correlation between sperm count and semen Se. Sperm motility was maximal at semen Se levels ranging between 50 and 69 ng/ml; above and below this range, motility was decreased and the incidence of asthenospermia was high. This result suggests an optimal range for semen Se. A follow-up of 4.5 to 5 years after the initial assay of Se revealed that low semen Se levels (less than or equal to 35 ng/ml) were associated with male infertility. A Se level between approximately 40 and 70 ng/ml was optimal for reproductive performance (high pregnancy rate and low abortion rate). Semen Se levels greater than or equal to 80 ng/ml were associated with a high abortion rate and signs of ovarian dysfunction in the partner (both partners usually have the same diet and environmental exposure). These results attest to the role of Se in human reproduction, a well-established fact in several animal species. The semen Se level appears to be a useful indicator of Se status versus reproductive function. Further studies are warranted concerning the general aspects of metabolism and mechanism of action of Se in infertile couples before any therapeutic modification of intake of this element can be contemplated.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1981

[Experiences with the antiestrogen tamoxifen in the therapy of oligozoospermia].

Thirty-three subfertile men with idiopathic normogonadotropic oligozoospermia were treated with daily 2 x 10 mg tamoxifen, a nonsteroidal antiestrogen, for a period of five months. The statistical evaluation of the semen parameters yielded a significant increase of the sperm count and the total sperm output after three months of treatment with a further increase after five months. The percentage of motile spermatozoa increased already after one month and remained significantly increased during the whole treatment period. Progressive motility, sperm morphology, ejaculate volume and seminal plasma fructose were not affected. Side effects were not observed. The conception rate was 38 per cent within a period of one year.

Dose-Response Relationship, Drug↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anti-sperm IgA antibodies against the equatorial segment of the human spermatozoon are associated with impaired sperm penetration and subfertility.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of antibodies directed against the equatorial segment of the spermatozoon in (a) serum in both sexes in relation to age and fertility status and (b) semen of infertile men with tail-to-tail sperm agglutination in relation to in vitro sperm penetration capacity. MATERIAL: Serum samples were obtained from 30 neonates, 11 prepubertal children, 30 adolescents, 60 adults aged 20-50 years, and 60 adults over the age of 70. Semen samples were obtained from 62 men with normal sperm counts and sperm morphology but with tail-to-tail agglutination. METHODS: Sperm antibodies were demonstrated with an immunoperoxidase assay. Sperm penetration capacity was measured with a modified Kremer capillary test. RESULTS: Serum anti-sperm antibodies were absent in children but appeared in teen-age boy (10%) and in adult men (20%) and women (30%). Lower prevalence of serum anti-sperm antibodies was noted for old individuals of both sexes (6-10%). Among individuals with a history of infertility, a significantly higher frequency of anti-sperm antibody-positive men (P < .001) and (P < .05) was found as compared to fertile controls. Presence of IgA antibodies bound to the equatorial segment of spermatozoa was associated with impaired in vitro sperm penetration capacity. No IgG or IgM anti-sperm antibodies bound to the equatorial segment were demonstrable. CONCLUSIONS: Seminal IgA antibodies bound to sperm are associated with impaired sperm penetration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Endosulfan-induced biochemical changes in the testis of rats.

Adult male rats were exposed to 0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10.0 mg endosulfan/kg body weight through oral intubation for 70 d. Decreased sperm counts in the cauda epididymis and reduced intratesticular spermatid counts associated with elevation in the activities of specific testicular marker enzymes (sorbitol dehydrogenase, lactic dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) were seen in all the endosulfan-dosed groups. Endosulfan caused impairment in testicular functions by altering activities of the enzymes responsible for spermatogenesis, thereby influencing intratesticular spermatid count and causing low sperm production and sperm deformity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Male reproductive function in workers exposed to vibration.

Male infertility is a significant health problem. Increasing attention has been paid to the use of semen analysis as an indicator of exposure to potential reproductive hazards. The aim of the current paper was to study the effects of vibrations on the spermatogenesis in workers of different occupational groups (professional drivers, miners, engine drivers, etc.). Semen samples were analyzed for pH, volume, turbidity, sperm density sperm count and sperm morphology. Workers had an increased prevalence of oligospermia and azoospermia. The semen volume and percentage of motile spermatozoa decreased significantly and the incidence of sperm malformation increased in exposed workers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Activation of coagulation factor X in human semen.

Tissue factor (TF) is an essential cofactor for factor VII (fVII) in initiating blood coagulation. Recently, TF was shown to be present in human semen and to be associated with prostasomes that originate from prostatic secretions. In the blood coagulation cascade, the complex of TF and activated factor VII (fVIIa) can activate both factor X and factor IX, by limited proteolysis. In the present study, we investigated the ability of semen to activate factor X. We also determined that factor X was activated predominantly by TF-fVIIa and that most of the TF was present in the seminal plasma, consistent with prostasome localization. No endogenous factor X was detected in semen, but activation of added factor X occurred in the absence of added fVIIa. Subsequent experiments showed that seminal plasma contains endogenous fVII-like activity, but the addition of more fVIIa increased factor X activation. Thus, while seminal plasma contains significant amounts of TF, its potential to activate factor X is limited by fVII availability and by the absence of endogenous factor X. Evaluation of semen specimens from infertility patients revealed a 16-fold variation in TF-fVII activity. No relationship between TF and number of days of abstinence, specimen pH, sperm count, or sperm motility was evident. Additional factor X-activating potential, independent of further TF activity, was generated in seminal plasma after treatment of semen with calcium and ionophore A23187. Production of this additional activity was blocked by the addition of anti-TF antibody during the activation. Since there is no factor X endogenous to semen, the additional activity stimulated by A23187 appears to be due to an endogenous, non-factor X substrate for TF-fVII in semen. This endogenous substrate may be either factor IX or a novel new substrate for TF-fVIIa. Future experiments will test these hypotheses.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of age on sperm concentration in the male golden hamster.

Male golden hamsters were separated into three age groups: adolescent, 2-4 months; adult, 12-13 months; aged 20-24 months, and maintained on a reversed light cycle. Body, testis and epididymal weights were recorded at the time of sacrifice. Stock suspensions of sperm were obtained from the cauda epididymidis and serially diluted in saline. Optical density (O.D.) readings and sperm counts were taken for each dilution sample. Data points, O.D. versus sperm counts, were computer fit. Comparison of the regression lines demonstrated a significant difference between the slopes of curves for adolescent males and for adult and aged males (99% confidence level). Mean sperm counts for the adult and aged males were significantly higher than for the young males. The increased counts were accompanied by decreases in O.D. with advancing age. Trypsin treatment of the sperm revealed no effect on O.D. indicating that separation of heads and tails was not responsible for the change in O.D. values of sperm samples. Likewise, comparison of washed and unwashed sperm indicated that epididymal fluid plays no role in determining O.D. values. There were no significant age-related differences in body, testis or epididymal weights.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Glycerophosphocholine in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.

Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) was measured in seminal plasma from 65 fertile men, 276 infertile men and 10 men before and after vasectomy, using a new enzymatic method. Extra-epididymal excretion of GPC accounted for 30% of the total seminal levels of GPC. From a diagnostic point of view, GPC determination did not appear to be a specific tool which could discriminate between secretory and excretory azoospermia. Although the seminal content of GPC was related positively to the total sperm count in both fertile and infertile men, there was an inverse relationship between the level of GPC and sperm motility when considering classes displaying the same total sperm count. This was observed in all classes from infertile men as well as in fertile men with a total sperm count lower than 200 x 10(6) sperm/ejaculate. These results suggest a possible role of GPC in the regulation of human sperm motility, which warrants further investigation.

Glycerylphosphorylcholine↗
PubMed1997

An oral regimen of cyproterone acetate and testosterone undecanoate for spermatogenic suppression in men.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness, safety, and reversibility of the combined administration of cyproterone acetate and T undecanoate. DESIGN: Open clinical trial. SETTING: Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Eight healthy men, aged 25-42 years were selected. INTERVENTION(S): Cyproterone acetate, 12.5 mg, and T undecanoate, 80 mg, were administered orally twice daily for 16 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semen analyses every 2 weeks; physical examination, chemistries, hematology, prostatic-specific antigen, gonadotropins and T levels, and a questionnaire on sexual and behavioral function every 4 weeks. RESULT(S): In all subjects a profound suppression of spermatogenesis occurred; one subject became azoospermic, five subjects had sperm counts of < or = 3 x 10(6)/mL, and in two subjects sperm counts were 4 and 6 x 10(6)/mL in week 16. Sperm counts returned to baseline in all men after hormone administration was discontinued. No changes in metabolic parameters and total prostatic-specific antigen were detected. Hemoglobin and hematocrit decreased statistically significantly at week 16 of treatment and returned to baseline by week 12 of recovery. There was no change in sexual function or behavior. CONCLUSION(S): The oral administration of T undecanoate plus cyproterone acetate induces a profound suppression of spermatogenesis with no major adverse effects. These data suggest the feasibility of oral contraception in men.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Surgery of varicocele: results concerning sperm motility and morphology].

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the changes induced by surgical treatment of varicocele on the classical parameter of the sperm count as well as the parameters of Kruger's classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Comparative analysis of sperm concentration, mobility and head morphology was performed on the sperm counts obtained before and 6 months after surgery in 159 infertile patients with clinical left varicocele, suspected of being the only aetiological factor for infertility. RESULTS: Sperm mobility and the percentage of spermatozoa with normal head morphology were significantly increased after treatment. The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology was only slightly improved, due to the absence of improvement of flagellar and intermediate segment abnormalities. Fifty-nine term pregnancies were obtained after treatment, corresponding to 41.1% of treated patients. CONCLUSION: Treatment of varicocele in infertile patients can improve sperm count and morphology parameters, particularly abnormalities of the head according to Kruger's strict criteria. The number of pregnancies observed argues in favour of the treatment of varicocele, when it constitutes the only aetiological factor for infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

In vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection success rates with cryopreserved sperm from patients with malignant disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the success rate of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using thawed cryopreserved sperm in male cancer patients. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive study. SETTING: IVF unit in a tertiary university hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-one couples treated by ICSI using the frozen-thawed sperm of husbands treated for cancer. INTERVENTION(S): Follow-up of all treatments by ICSI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy rate, sperm count, and fertilization rate. RESULT(S): Male patients being treated for cancer froze between one and 29 sperm samples. Post-thaw sperm count ranged from 1 x 10(5) to 106 x 10(6). The mean fertilization rate by ICSI was 60% (range, 33%-100%), and the pregnancy rate was 42%. Twenty-six pregnancies were obtained resulting in 23 children (13 singleton and 10 twins) and eight spontaneous abortions (31%). Delivery was obtained in 12 of the 21 treated couples (57%). The lowest total motile sperm count that resulted in a pregnancy was 1 x 10(5). CONCLUSION(S): Male cancer patients should be encouraged to freeze numerous sperm samples even when sperm count and motility are poor. In these cases, ICSI is a powerful technique compared with intrauterine injection since thawed sperm samples with poor parameters can produce relatively high fertilization rates resulting in normal pregnancies and deliveries. The possibility to repeat treatments even in the face of a limited number of sperm samples appears to be of importance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of sperm quantity and quality in antegrade V retrograde ejaculates obtained by vibratory penile stimulation in males with spinal cord injury.

Reduced fertility in men with spinal cord injury results from the inability to ejaculate and poor semen quality. Vibratory penile stimulation can induce ejaculation in many men with spinal cord injuries, but few studies have reported the effects of repeated vibratory stimulation on quantitative semen analysis tests. Fourteen spinal cord-injured males were enrolled in a prospective study to develop a quantitative profile of antegrade and retrograde ejaculate specimens collected during repeated vibratory stimulation. Antegrade specimens were obtained in 51 (84%) and retrograde specimens were obtained in all of the 61 trials (100%). Sperm were present in 70% and 64% of the antegrade and retrograde samples, respectively. Of the patients who underwent repeated vibratory stimulation attempts, three showed marked improvement in sperm counts and characteristics with repeated vibration and five showed normal fluctuation or no change in semen quality. Overall, there was a trend toward higher sperm counts in the antegrade samples (mean, 74.1 million) than in the retrograde samples (mean, 40 million), but no statistical significance was found. Mean sperm motility, sperm progressive motility, and percent normal sperm morphology were not significantly different between antegrade and retrograde specimens. Fructose and zinc, semen markers that reflect the presence of a true ejaculate, were present in all antegrade and retrograde specimens. In conclusion, (1) both antegrade and retrograde ejaculation occur with vibratory penile stimulation, with antegrade samples containing greater numbers of sperm but retrograde samples also having significant sperm counts, (2) repeated vibration may increase sperm concentration or may result in only minimal changes reflective of normal fluctuations, and (3) vibratory stimulation results in true ejaculation, as evidenced by semen markers.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The relationship of abnormal semen parameters to male fertility.

To what extent do standard semen parameters reflect male fertility? A review of many studies over the last 35 years relating pregnancy rate to sperm counts in 'fertile' and 'infertile' couples indicates that standard semen parameters, though much maligned of late, are useful in evaluating the degree of 'male factor' in an infertile couple. However, 'male factor' is quite compatible with fertility in a couple if the wife is very fertile. Oligoasthenozoospermia is, unfortunately, for the most part, an untreatable condition. Yet, vigorous treatment of the wife may still result in pregnancy despite very poor semen quality. Higher sperm counts in an infertile couple are associated with higher pregnancy rates. But in the majority of infertile couples in whom the sperm count is poor, female factors also exist that prevent conception. If the wife were very fertile, she would have become pregnant despite her husband's oligozoospermia, and they would never have seen a physician for infertility. Thus, pregnancy can be achieved with very low sperm counts either by treatment of the wife, IVF, GIFT or ZIFT procedures.

Female↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Testicular injury: late results of semen analyses after uniorchiectomy.

Semen parameters from 4 patients with testicular injury after uniorchiectomy were investigated. Semen volume and sperm morphology were not affected after the operation, but sperm count and motility were severely diminished. Two of 4 cases showed azoospermia, and the other 2 cases showed low values in both sperm count and motility. After 150-300 days from the operation, 2 cases recovered to the normal range in sperm count while the other 2 remained in the abnormal range. In sperm motility, 3 cases recovered to the normal range but the rest remained abnormal. The results suggest that long-term follow-up in semen parameters is needed when unilateral orchiectomy is performed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reversibility of azoospermia induced by bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

A single intratesticular injection of bacillus Calmette-Guerin induces azoospermia within 3 to 6 weeks in a variety of animals without loss of androgens. After a period of azoospermia, the return of spermatogenesis was observed in dogs and monkeys. Seven dogs that showed aspermatogenesis after a local instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (20-110 units per testis) again demonstrated spermatogenesis after a period of 153 to 325 days of azoospermia. Sperm counts and motility were restored to preimmunization levels within 6 weeks after initiation of spermatogenesis. In one dog, systemic treatment with antimycobacterial drugs helped to clear the bacillus Calmette-Guerin from the testis, thus hastening the reinitiation of spermatogenesis. In two monkeys injected with 110 and 160 units of bacillus Calmette-Guerin, azoospermia lasted up to 150 days. Subsequently, fertility was restored and the treated animals sired healthy offspring. A second injection of bacillus Calmette-Guerin of a lesser dose (5-20 units per testis) in these fertile dogs and monkeys again produced azoospermia. Histologically, the monkeys having a second period of azoospermia demonstrated aspermatogenic orchitis in the testis and leukocyte infiltration in the interstitium. A majority of the tubules had intact basement membranes, with a block of spermatogenesis at the spermatocyte stage. In dogs, the second azoospermia lasted for 113 to 277 days with a subsequent restoration of sperm counts and sperm motility to preimmunization levels. There were no circulating antisperm antibodies detected in sera of these animals during the azoospermic period or during its reversal. These observations suggest that the bacillus Calmette-Guerin-induced azoospermia is reversible, both in terms of sperm count and fertility.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Varicocele in children and adolescents. Is surgical treatment justified?].

Varicocele , a disease essentially observed in adults, is underestimated der-estimated in children and adolescents, in whom, for the majority of authors, , the therapeutic management is surgical although the benefits in terms of fertility are unknown. Forty-eight children and adolescents, seen between 1978 and 1983, were followed by clinical examination and subsequent sperm count with a mean follow-up of 5.20 years. The presence at the first examination of the subsequent development of testicular atrophy is a pejorative element in the disease: 12% of children simply followed developed left testicular atrophy at puberty associated with severe anomalies of the sperm count. Persistent testicular atrophy after surgery was synonymous with anomalies of the sperm count in all of these children. Regression of moderate atrophy was observed in three children after surgical cure, but the pre- and post-treatment sperm counts were normal.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Serum inhibin concentrations before and during gonadotropin treatment in men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: physiological and clinical implications.

We measured by RIA the inhibin concentrations in the sera of 20 men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism before and during treatment with gonadotropins in order to determine the role of gonadotropins in the control of inhibin secretion and the utility of the serum inhibin concentration in assessing the spermatogenic response to gonadotropin treatment in these patients. Before treatment the mean serum inhibin concentration in the 20 hypogonadotropic men as a group (391 +/- 49 U/L) was significantly lower (P less than 0.001) than that in 27 normal men (741 +/- 52 U/L). In the 7 men whose hypogonadism was of postpubertal onset, the mean serum inhibin concentration (559 +/- 69 U/L) was not significantly lower than that in normal men. In the 13 men whose hypogonadism was of prepubertal onset, the serum inhibin level was significantly lower [381 +/- 74 U/L (P less than 0.01) in the 7 without a history of cryptorchidism and 207 +/- 46 U/L (P less than 0.01) in the 6 with a history of cryptorchidism]. All 20 patients were azoospermic or severely oligospermic and had distinctly subnormal serum testosterone concentrations, even those whose serum inhibin values were normal. In the 7 patients with postpubertal hypogonadism, treatment with hCG alone for 6 months increased the serum testosterone concentration and maximum sperm count to normal, even though the previously normal inhibin concentration was not increased further. In the 13 patients with prepubertal hypogonadism, treatment with hCG alone increased the serum inhibin concentration, and combined treatment with hCG and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) increased inhibin further, to well within the normal range (742 +/- 143 U/L) in the patients without a history of cryptorchidism and to just within the normal range (487 +/- 96 U/L) in those with such a history. In the 7 patients with prepubertal hypogonadism but no history of cryptorchidism, treatment with hCG and hMG increased the maximum sperm count to normal in 5. In the 6 patients with prepubertal hypogonadism who did have a history of cryptorchidism, hCG and hMG treatment produced a normal sperm count in only 1. Of 12 patients whose serum inhibin level was more than 300 U/L before treatment, 11 developed a normal maximum sperm count in response to treatment, but of 8 patients whose inhibin concentration was less than 300 U/L before treatment, only 2 developed a normal sperm count in response to treatment (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Prevention of chronic alcohol and nicotine-induced azospermia, sterility and decreased libido, by a novel tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety from Passiflora incarnata Linneaus in healthy male rats.

Excessive long term consumption of alcohol and nicotine have serious detrimental effects upon the libido, fertility, and sperm count in male species. The present work describes the beneficial effects of a novel tri-substituted benzoflavone moiety (BZF) isolated from Passiflora incarnata Linneaus, the phyto-chemical isolation, spectroscopic elucidation, and multifarious biological activities of which have recently been reported by the authors. The BZF moiety has been reported to increase libido, sperm count, and sexual fertility in 2 years old male rats at 10 mg/kg, po dose, in the one of our previous studies. Presently, the BZF moiety has been evaluated against chronic ethanol- and nicotine-induced decrease in libido, sexual fertility and mating efficiency in healthy male rats. The male rats were given ethanol (3 g/kg, po) A, nicotine (2 mg/kg, sc) N, alcohol-nicotine combinations (AN) alone, and also with 10 mg/kg po dose of BZF (concurrent administrations). These treatments were given for 30 days. At the end of treatments, it was observed that rat groups A, N, and AN had no libido (evaluated by mounting behaviour), declined sperm count, and consequently no mating efficiency or fertility (upon pairing with pro-estrus female rats). However, the rats which were given 10 mg/kg BZF along-with nicotine (NP group), alcohol (AP group), and alcohol-nicotine combination (ANP) exhibited significant libido-oriented mounting behaviour, increased sperm count (significantly comparable to the control group), and increased fertilization potential. The rats having decreased sperm count, libido and fertilization potential due to chronic administration of alcohol, nicotine and alcohol-nicotine combinations, i.e., rats of A, N, and AN groups were again subdivided and were given 10 mg/kg BZF for 7 days. This treatment confirmed that BZF speeds up the restoration of sexuality in rats upon cessation of the administration of substances like alcohol, nicotine and alcohol-nicotine combinations, which have severe detrimental effects upon male sexuality, fertility and vigour. BZF, the strongest inhibitor of aromatase enzyme, when administered concurrently with substances like alcohol and nicotine restores sexual virility, libido and vigour in male rats by maintaining the blood-testosterone levels to be high.

Alcoholism↗