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PubMed2006

Effects of epidermal growth factor on sperm content and motility of rats with surgically induced varicoceles.

AIM: To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the sperm content and motility of the varicocelized rats. METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. Experimental varicocele was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in the varicocele, the varicocele repair, the varicocele with EGF and the varicocele repair with EGF groups, whereas the control group only received a sham induction of varicocele. Surgical repair of varicocele was performed 4 months later in the varicocele repair and varicocele repair with EGF groups. EGF administration was performed daily by s.c. injection in the varicocele with EGF and varicocele repair with EGF groups at the dose of 10 microg/(kg.day) from the next day of the second surgery. One month later, all animals were killed and bilateral cauda epididymal sperm counts and motility were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean sperm count and percentage of motile spermatozoa were significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele with EGF group than in the varicocele group (P < 0.05). They were also significantly higher bilaterally in the varicocele repair with EGF group than in the varicocele repair and the varicocele with EGF groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EGF can improve bilateral epididymal sperm content and motility of the rat with surgically induced varicocele. The administration of EGF in combination with surgical repair is more effective than surgical repair or EGF administration alone. EGF might be useful for the treatment of infertility induced by varicocele.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Interrelationships among semen characteristics, antisperm antibodies, and cervical mucus penetration assays in infertile human couples.

Semen characteristics, antisperm antibodies, and cervical mucus penetration studies were analyzed in 754 couples and 95 men undergoing infertility evaluation. The means for the different semen/sperm variables were within ranges published for fertile men. Ages of the men ranged from 22 to 55 years and accounted for a small amount of variation. Sperm counts were lowest in September, December, and January, and highest in April, May, October, and November. Of the sperm characteristics, morphology appeared to be associated with the most other variables. Specimens with more than 50% abnormal sperm forms were overall of significantly poorer quality in terms of sperm counts, motility, forward progression, and ability to penetrate cervical mucus. Antisperm antibodies (agglutinating and immobilizing) were detected in the serum samples of 19.0% of the men, 20.4% of the women, and 32.8% of the couples where one or both partners were positive. Agglutinating antibody titers were significantly correlated between partners. Serum titers of antisperm antibodies were associated with decreased sperm counts, motility, forward progression, and normal forms (immobilizing antibodies). Multiple correlation analysis indicated significant independent effects of sperm concentration, motility, forward progression, and antibodies on sperm-cervical mucus penetration scores of the men. In women, cervical mucus penetration was adversely affected by the presence in the serum of sperm agglutinating antibodies and of immobilizing activity in the cervical mucus.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evolution of male fertility in the last twenty years].

After the meta-analysis by Carlsen et al. (1992) showing a decline in human sperm count over the last 50 years, several studies have been made on the sperm characteristics of more or less homogeneous groups of men who were collecting semen in the same center for 10-20 years. A significant decline in sperm count was reported in some studies but not in others. The debate on declining sperm counts is not closed and these studies raised the following important questions: could the differences in results be the reflect of variation in techniques or blas in methodologies? If these phenomena are real, why a deterioration of semen quality in some places and not in others with so important geographical differences of sperm production? What are the possible consequences on human fertility and what are the causes? Unfortunately, there is presently no answer. The danish study provoked extensive discussion on the many possible sources of bias while there was less controversy concerning the studies carried out in a single center despite the extent of limitations of several of them. Recent publications indicated concomitant and increasing alterations of the development and/or function of the male genital tract, various observations in the wildlife and several experimental studies suggesting the possible deleterious role of numerous chemical compounds present in our environment. Therefore, prospective epidemiological studies and fundamental researchs are urgently needed.

Bias↗
PubMed1995

Effect of cryopreservation on semen quality in patients with testicular cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Current techniques in cryopreservation of human semen substantially decrease sperm quality. In addition, the pregnancy rate using cryopreserved sperm obtained from testicular cancer patients is lower than when sperm from normal fertile men is used. However, it is still unclear whether cryopreserved sperm from these patients is inherently defective or if the sperm loses its motility after thawing. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of cryopreservation on the quality and motion characteristics of semen from patients with testicular cancer before definitive therapy compared with semen from normal volunteers. METHODS: We compared the sperm quality before and after cryopreservation in samples from 34 patients with testicular cancer and 30 normal volunteers who were referred for sperm banking over a 7-year period. The effects of cancer stage and histologic type on various semen parameters were also examined. A computer-assisted semen analysis was performed before and after cryopreservation on each specimen. The nitrogen vapor technique using Test yolk buffer with glycerol as a cryoprotective agent was used for cryopreservation. The motile sperm count and motion characteristics (motility, velocity, linearity, amplitude of the lateral head movement, motility index) were analyzed before and after cryopreservation and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Semen quality did not significantly differ among patients with Stage I, II, or III cancer. However, semen quality tended to be poorer at higher cancer stages. In general, semen quality was better among patients with pure seminomas than with pure embryonal tumors; quality was worst among patients with mixed germ cell tumors. However, 71.4% of patients with mixed tumors presented with Stage III disease, whereas all patients with seminomas presented with Stage I disease. Significant differences were also seen in prefreeze motility (median, 42% [interquartile range, 24 to 51] versus 60.5% [range, 49 to 73]; P = 0.0004) and motile sperm count (6.7 x 10(6)/mL [range, 3.4 to 14.4] versus 50.0 [range, 24.6 to 72.0]; P = 0.0001) in patients compared with controls, respectively. The motile sperm count and percent motility significantly decreased in both patients and controls after cryopreservation (P = 0.0001). However, the percentage decline in motile sperm count and motion characteristics after cryopreservation did not differ significantly between patients and controls (P > 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the effect of cryopreservation on sperm quality in patients with testicular cancer is identical to its effect on sperm from normal fertile men. Differences in values after preservation are explained by poor semen characteristics before freezing; semen quality declines with more extensive disease. Stage I patients also had poorer quality than control subjects. Thus, we recommend that routine sperm banking be encouraged among all patients with testicular cancer before the initiation of specific medical treatment. We also recommend that future efforts be focused on improving the technique of sperm banking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Laparoscopic varicocele ligation. The comparative assessment of artery-ligating and artery-preserving varicocelectomy].

For over ten years more and more significant role in the diagnostics and clinical treatment of marital infertility have been ascribed to the male factor, which accounts for 30-40% of infertility cases. One of the most common reasons of male infertility is varicocele. Between the years 1994-2000 transperitoneal laparoscopic varicocelectomy was performed in 166 men with unilateral varicoceles. Two methods of surgical correction were administered. In I group--88 men (53%)--testicular artery and vein were ligated, in II group--78 men (47%) only testicular vein was ligated. The success of the treatment was evaluated in two age groups; A--19-30 and B--31-41 years of age. Before the operation in group I and II the sperm count was respectively 18.19?10.51 and 19.05 +/- 10.62 x 10(6)/ml. The percentage of the progressive motility was 18.95 +/- 9.46% in I group and 20.12 +/- 9.08% in II group. The percentage of normal forms was 22.04 +/- 8.42% in I group and 23.02 +/- 9.81% in II group. After 12 months of surgical observation the sperm count was 35.21 +/- 13.46 in I and 31.82 +/- 12.14 x 10(6)/ml, in II group. The percentage of progressive motility increased to 36.48 +/- 15.76% in I group and to 31.26 +/- 10.78% in II group. In both groups the percentage of normal forms was comparable, in I group was 49.11 +/- 26.72% and in II group was 47.15 +/- 17.18%. In both age groups sperm count before operation was respectively: 20.42 +/- 10.20 in A, and 16.42 +/- 9.16 x 106/ml in B. The percentage of progressive motility was in A and B respectively 22.98 +/- 9.91% and 15.38 +/- 9.66%. At percentage of normal forms was respectively 25.62 +/- 8.92 and 18.81 +/- 7.93%. In the end of observation period the improvement of sperm count was observed in A--42.69 +/- 22.36, in B--22.86 +/- 11.76 x 10(6)/ml. The improvement of progressive motility was ia A--43.27 +/- 23.96% and in B--23.09 +/- 17.01%. The improvement of normal forms were in A--55.39 +/- 24.31% and 39.69 +/- 22.29 in group B. The pregnancy rate was; in I group +/- 30.6% in II group--23.1%, in A group--33.3%, in B--group--19.7%. The laparoscopic ligation of the testicular vein and artery produced better improvement of semen characteristics and percentage of pregnancies in comparison with artery sparing technique. The laparoscopic varicocelectomy regardless of the technique allows a significant improvement of semen characteristics and pregnancy rate among the couples, where men were less than 30 years of age.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

LDH-C4 in human seminal plasma and its relationship to testicular function. II. Clinical aspects.

Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) isoenzyme LDH-C4 (LDH-X) has been analyzed quantitatively in semen from men with different fertility status, such as men with pregnant wives, men with primary or secondary infertility, volunteers, men taking salazopyrine and men exposed to very hot baths. LDH-C4 activity per ml or per ejaculate was not related to the fertility status of the men. The situation was different when the LDH-C4/sperm ratio was used as a variable. The median (p50) LDH-C4 activity in semen was (in nanokat/10(8) spermatozoa) 9.4 for samples from men (N = 34) whose wives were in early pregnancy, 24.7 for men (N = 102) with primary infertility and 28.8 for men (N = 18) taking sulphasalazine. The differences in median values between the former group and the latter two groups were highly significant (P less than 0.001). In addition, semen samples from 3 infertile men who took daily hot baths as a habit, had a significantly higher LDH-C4/sperm ratio than samples collected during periods when they did not take hot baths. Semen samples were subdivided according to the number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate after correction for days of abstinence and the size of the testes. There was an inverse correlation between the LDH-C4/sperm ratio and the adjusted sperm count (million per day and per ml testes). Men with an adjusted sperm count of 0.5 or less had a median (p50) LDH-C4 activity of 38 nanokat/10(3) spermatozoa compared to 14.5 in samples from men with an adjusted sperm count of more than 1.0 (P less than 0.001). The LDH-C4/sperm ratio in seminal plasma may therefore serve as an indicator of the function of the seminiferous epithelium, and its assessment may provide a new means for the study of spermatogenesis and male reproduction.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Recovery of sperm production following radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease after induction chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone (NOVP).

PURPOSE: The effect on human male fertility of radiotherapy following chemotherapy for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease (HD) is unknown. The impact of radiation therapy, given after mitoxantrone, vincristine, vinblastine, and prednisone (NOVP) chemotherapy, on sperm production is the focus of this study. PATIENTS: Serial semen analyses were performed on 34 patients with HD Stages I-III before NOVP chemotherapy, after chemotherapy prior to radiation, and after radiation therapy. The most inferior radiation portals for patients were: mantle, 1 patient; paraaortic-spleen, 3 patients; upper abdomen, 24 patients; abdominal spade, 4 patients; and pelvic, 2 patients. Testicular radiation dose measurements were available for 20 of these patients. RESULTS: Before the start of radiation, 90% of patients were normospermic. The magnitude of the decline in sperm counts was related to the measured testicular dose and/or radiation fields employed. The minimum postradiotherapy counts, expressed as a fraction of pretreatment counts, for the various treatment groups are as follows: paraaortic-spleen, 20%; upper abdomen, testicular dose < 30 cGy, 4%; upper abdomen, testicular dose 30-39 cGy, 0.9%; abdominal spade, 0.02%; and pelvis, 0%. The time to nadir of sperm counts averaged 4.5 months. Recovery to normospermic levels occurred in 96% of patients, with most recovering to that level within 18 months. CONCLUSION: The effect of radiation following NOVP chemotherapy on sperm counts was no greater than would be expected with radiation therapy alone. In most patients, sperm counts recovered to levels compatible with normal fertility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Response of the seminiferous epithelium to scattered radiation in seminoma patients.

Semen and blood samples were obtained, at 3-month intervals over 12 to 28 months, from patients who underwent subdiaphragmal radiation after orchidectomy for seminoma testis. Before radiotherapy a mean (+/- SE) semen volume of 4.7 +/- 0.5 ml, a mean sperm count of 44.4 +/- 13.5 x 10(6)/ml, a mean percentage of motile cells of 20.3 +/- 5.2, a mean percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa of 13.4 +/- 5.4, a mean percentage of swollen sperm of 39.6 +/- 7.4, and a mean serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) value of 8.3 +/- 1.2 mIU/ml was found. The mean testicular dose from scatter was 62 +/- 5 cGy (range, 34 to 95 cGy). Sperm counts between 0 and 2.75 x 10(6)/ml were seen at 6.8 +/- 0.6 months and recovery to values greater than 2.25 x 10(6)/ml at 11.8 +/- 0.8 months after the start of radiation. Peak FSH values of 19.2 +/- 1.6 mIU/ml were obtained at 6.7 +/- 0.9 months after the start of irradiation. After recovery mean semen volume was 3.9 +/- 0.4 ml, mean sperm count 34.6 +/- 5.6 x 10(6)/ml, the mean percentage of motile cells 42.5 +/- 6.0, the mean percentage of swollen sperm 58.7 +/- 6.8, and the mean percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology 23.4 +/- 5.1. Only motility was significantly different (P less than 0.01) from pretreatment values. The elevation of FSH values with time after start of radiotherapy reflected the toxicity to spermatogenesis but no correlation was found between peak FSH levels and scattered radiation dose. Also, neither the time from start of radiotherapy to sperm count nadir or recovery nor the time to peak FSH levels was significantly correlated with radiation dose.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Involvement of epidermal growth factor deficiency in pathogenesis of oligozoospermia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Based on previous findings that epidermal growth factor (EGF), which plays an important role in maintenance of spermatogenesis, is deficient in diabetic mice, the significance of EGF deficiency in the pathogenesis of oligozoospermia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice was studied. EGF levels in the submandibular glands and plasma of diabetic mice were 0.61 +/- 0.07 micrograms/mg tissue and 0.25 +/- 0.02 ng/ml (mean +/- SE), respectively, whereas those of normal mice were 1.63 +/- 0.08 micrograms/mg tissue and 0.54 +/- 0.04 ng/ml, respectively. The epididymal sperm counts of diabetic mice, 4.7 +/- 0.14 x 10(5)/mg tissue, were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than those of normal mice, 6.0 +/- 0.10 x 10(5)/mg tissue. Administration of EGF (5 micrograms/mouse/day) to diabetic mice significantly (P less than 0.01) increased their sperm counts to 5.5 +/- 0.16 x 10(5)/mg tissue without affecting plasma levels of testosterone and glucose. Furthermore, insulin treatment (1 U/mouse/day) of diabetic mice restored the submandibular gland, plasma EGF concentrations, and sperm counts to normal levels. The restorative effects of insulin on sperm production appeared to be mediated, at least in part, by EGF, because its effect was significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced by the concomitant administration of EGF antiserum. In addition, the plasma testosterone levels of diabetic mice, 67 +/- 14.3 ng/ml, were lower that those of normal mice, 122 +/- 19.1 ng/ml. Administration of testosterone (1 mg/mouse/day) normalized the submandibular gland and plasma EGF levels and significantly increased sperm counts in the epididymis. These results suggest that EGF deficiency is a possible cause for the pathogenesis of oligozoospermia in diabetic mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

East-West gradient in semen quality in the Nordic-Baltic area: a study of men from the general population in Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Finland.

BACKGROUND: Denmark and Norway have a three-fold higher incidence of testicular cancer than Estonia and Finland. Groups of young men from Denmark, Norway, Finland and Estonia were investigated to elucidate whether semen parameters and other related parameters follow a gradient between these countries, as does the gradient in incidence of testicular cancer. METHODS: In total, 968 young men from the general population in these four countries were investigated according to the same protocol. Possible confounders were evaluated, and included in the statistical analysis when appropriate. Inter-laboratory differences in assessment of sperm concentrations were controlled by an external quality control programme and morphology assessment was centralized to one person. RESULTS: The Finnish and Estonian men had an adjusted median sperm concentration of 54 and 57 x 10(6)/ml, respectively and the Norwegian and Danish men 41 x 10(6)/ml. The corresponding total sperm counts were 185, 174, 133 and 144 x 10(6). The frequency of normal sperm in men from Finland was 8.9%, Estonia 9.2%, Norway 6.9% and Denmark 6.4%. Within all four groups of men, a relationship between increasing levels of inhibin-B and increasing sperm counts was observed. However, inhibin-B levels were not predictive of sperm count differences between countries. CONCLUSIONS: It is believed that the men examined were representative of the normal population of young men in all four countries as they were recruited from groups attending a compulsory medical examination, and not selected for known fertility or semen quality. Moreover, the majority of participants had no prior knowledge of their fertility potential. It appears that an east-west gradient exists in the Nordic-Baltic area with regard to semen parameters, this being in parallel with the incidences of testicular cancer. Further investigations are required to determine whether these findings are due to genetic differences, to different environments, or perhaps to a combination of both factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Regional variations in semen quality of community-dwelling young men from Flanders are not paralleled by hormonal indices of testicular function.

Epidemiological studies of sperm quality are hampered by problems such as low participation rates and poor comparability of results due to methodological differences in semen analysis. More objective sperm quality-related serum markers would facilitate worldwide comparisons of male reproductive status. Our objectives were to investigate to what extent a set of hormonal indices of testicular function, previously established in a clinical setting, could predict regional variations in seminal parameters in men from the general population. We recruited 101 men aged 20-40 years from two regions in Flanders, and assessed their sperm parameters and levels of serum reproductive hormones. In one region compared to another, the participants had lower sperm counts (by 34%; P=.06), lower total sperm counts (by 41%; P=.02) and poorer sperm morphology (by 32%; P<.001), which were paralleled by significantly lower levels of free testosterone (by 11%; P=.03), while for total testosterone (T) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), the differences were not significant (both P=.09) at 10% and 17%, respectively. There were no differences in inhibin B and the T to luteinizing hormone (LH) ratio, which are markers of testicular function. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that T:LH, inhibin B, and the inhibin B/FSH ratio had significant discriminatory power between men with sperm concentrations below or above 13.5x10(6)/mL. Regional variations in the semen quality of community-dwelling individuals are not necessarily reflected in altered hormonal indices of testicular function and thus, these markers, validated in clinical settings, are not valid substitutes for the traditional semen quality assessment used in epidemiological population studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Stimulation of spermatogenesis in stalk-sectioned rhesus monkeys by testosterone alone.

Testosterone alone stimulated spermatogenesis in four adult, pituitary stalk-sectioned rhesus monkeys. Ten to 14 weeks after transection of the pituitary stalk, testicular volumes declined to about one fifth of the presurgical values. Serum LH levels declined precipitously, being undetectable 1 week postsurgery, and serum testosterone levels were indistinguishable from those of castrated male monkeys by the 5th week postsurgery. After a transient decline, serum PRL levels increased to high values in all four monkeys throughout the rest of the postsurgery period. Twelve weekly injections of 250 mg testosterone enanthate resulted in peak testosterone levels around 25-fold higher than presurgical levels. Estradiol levels increased about 4-fold over presurgical levels, and PRL also increased further during the treatment phase. Small ejaculates were produced by electrostimulation by the 5th week of treatment. Thereafter, the ejaculate weight increased. Sperm were found from the 10th week in all four monkeys. By the 13th week of treatment, sperm counts in three monkeys ranged from 17-60 X 10(6) sperm/ejaculate. The sperm counts continued to increase for the first 4 weeks after the cessation of the testosterone enanthate injections. Thereafter, the sperm counts declined, and all four animals produced azoospermic ejaculates between 10 and 31 weeks posttreatment. Moreover, testosterone levels declined slowly and nonuniformly among the four animals. Testicular volumes declined and were at the lowest levels 14 weeks posttreatment. Estradiol and PRL levels also declined posttreatment. It is concluded that testosterone alone can stimulate spermatogenesis in stalk-sectioned rhesus monkeys even in the face of high serum PRL and estradiol levels.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Unilateral transurethral incision for primary bladder neck obstruction: symptom relief and fertility preservation.

Our aim was to review the results of unilateral transurethral incision (TUI) of the bladder neck for the treatment of primary bladder neck obstruction. A total of 35 patients with the mean age of 40.31 years were included in the study. The international prostate symptom score (I-PSS), quality of life (QoL) score, uroflowmetry and sperm count were determined. The mean preoperative I-PSS was 32.1 points, peak urine flow rate was 7.8 cc/s and sperm count was 59.2 million/cc. There was a 28% reduction of I-PSS at 3 months, 38% at 6 months and 55% at 1 year. The urine peak flow rate increased by 54% at 3 months, 83% at 6 months and 95% at 1 year. The reduction in the sperm count was 63% at 6 months and 69% at 1 year. The QoL score improved significantly after 1 year compared with the preoperative period. Unilateral TUI of the bladder neck is an effective treatment for primary bladder neck obstruction. However, the postoperative sperm count is significantly reduced at 6-12 months (18-21 million/cc) but is probably sufficient for adequate fertility.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The varicocele dilemma.

There is probably no subject that is more controversial in the area of male infertility than varicocele. The overwhelming majority of non-urologist infertility specialists in the world are extremely sceptical of the role of varicocele or varicocelectomy in the treatment of male infertility. Directors of most assisted reproductive technologies (ART) programmes view the enthusiasm with which urologists approach varicocelectomy as a potential impediment to the couple that is getting older and do not have much time left to become pregnant using ART. There are many credible, well-controlled studies which show no effect of varicocelectomy on fertility. There are also a few 'controlled' studies that favour varicocelectomy, but all can be criticised on the basis of patient selection bias. Thus the great weight of evidence from controlled studies is against varicocelectomy and the reports supporting varicocelectomy are extremely weak. Finally, the reports that semen parameters are improved by varicocelectomy is flawed by uncontrolled observations and the failure to take into account the variability of semen analysis in infertile men and its regression toward the mean. Many control studies have demonstrated that, because of this variability, men with an initially low sperm count tend later to have higher sperm counts in the absence of any treatment whatsoever.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗
PubMed1991

The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase is expressed in the testes of transgenic mice under the control of a cryptic promoter.

We reported previously that the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) thymidine kinase reporter gene (tk) was expressed in the testes of transgenic mice when coupled to the promoter of a liver-specific mouse major urinary protein (MUP) gene. Here we show that HSV-1 tk is also expressed in the testis when coupled to a MUP pseudogene promoter, to a truncated MUP promoter that is not active in the liver, and to the promoter of the bovine thyroglobulin gene. Furthermore, HSV-1 tk itself was expressed in the testis, although its normal expression had been disabled by removing an upstream regulator of transcription. In every case, the same multiple transcripts were observed, with their 5' ends located downstream of the normal HSV-1 tk translation initiation codon. We conclude that the transcription of HSV-1 tk in the testis is directed by a cryptic TATA box-independent promoter located in the coding region of the gene. The longest HSV-1 thymidine kinase (TK) polypeptides synthesized in the testis were shorter than full-length TK and probably result from translational initiation at Met46 and Met60, the second and third ATG codons of the tk reading frame. Male mice of most transgenic lines were sterile, and the severity of the lesion in spermatogenesis was directly related to the level of TK expression. In the most highly expressing lines, sperm counts were low and morphologically defective sperm were common. In other sterile lines, TK was expressed at a lower level and sperm counts were normal but sperm motility was greatly reduced. Lines with the lowest levels of HSV-1 TK expression were fertile. HSV-1 TK was expressed in germ line cells, mainly in the haploid spermatids. However, low-level HSV-1 TK activity was found in the testis before the first germ cells entered meiosis, showing that if expression is confined to the germ cells, it also occurs in spermatogonia.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Vitamin E supplementation reduces dexamethasone-induced oxidative stress in chicken semen.

1. We examined the effects of supplemental dietary vitamin E (Vit E) on semen quality and antioxidative status in male domestic fowls exposed to oxidative stress induced by synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX) injection. 2. Thirty-six Egyptian local cross males, 42 weeks old, were housed individually in cages in an open-sided building under 16 h light:8 h dark and were provided with commercial feed and water ad libitum. Birds were divided into 4 groups: DEX (4 mg/bird/d), Vit E (200 mg/kg diet), DEX + Vit E (4 mg/bird/d + 200 mg/kg diet, respectively) and control, n = 9. All treatments lasted for 7 continuous days. 3. Oxidative stress induced by injection of DEX (4 mg/bird/d) resulted in decreased sperm count and motility correlated with an increased percentage of dead sperms. Vit E (200 mg/kg diet) enhanced sperm count and viability when supplemented to stress-induced birds, compared to DEX treatment alone. 4. In seminal plasma, low calcium concentration, high lipid peroxidation and reduced activity of glutathione peroxidase were associated with the oxidative stress. Vit E reduced lipid peroxidation in the seminal plasma. 5. In conclusion, excessive supplemental dietary Vit E improved semen quality when cockerels were subjected to stress conditions. It increased both sperm count and motility, reduced the percentage of dead sperm and enhanced the antioxidative status of seminal plasma.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Penetration ability of human spermatozoa into standardized bovine cervical mucus (Penetrak) in patients with normal and pathological semen samples.

Semen samples from 89 men were analyzed and evaluated with a standardized bovine cervical mucus penetration test (Penetrak). 29 patients had a normozoospermia, 22 patients a teratozoospermia and 38 patients an oligozoospermia of various degree. The most important parameters of semen analysis were compared with sperm mucus penetration. The sperm mucus penetration test correlated best with progressive motility (r = 0.6758), followed by total motility (r = 0.6302), sperm count (r = 0.6190), and % normal spermatozoa (r = 0.5493) (p less than 0.01 for each correlation coefficient). In the group of patients with normozoospermia 6 cases had been detected with insufficient sperm mucus penetration and in both groups with subfertility 15 cases with adequate sperm mucus penetration. 8 semen samples with normal sperm count and normal sperm motility were used for IVF. Only 6 patients with normal sperm penetration (greater than 30 mm/90') the spermatozoa fertilized the ova, but not from two patients, who had a sperm mucus penetration of less than 30 mm/90'. The study demonstrated that standardized bovine mucus penetration test detects disturbances of sperm motility which may not be discovered by conventional semen analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Use of testosterone to prevent cyclophosphamide-induced azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: Prepubertal patients receiving chemotherapy are relatively resistant to cyclophosphamide-induced germinal cell alterations. OBJECTIVE: To study the possible protective effect of testosterone used to inhibit germinal cell activity in men who are receiving cyclophosphamide. DESIGN: Randomized, clinical trial. SETTING: University medical center. PATIENTS: 15 patients with the nephrotic syndrome who were treated with cyclophosphamide for 6 to 8 months. INTERVENTION: Five patients received daily oral cyclophosphamide, five received cyclophosphamide in monthly bolus injections, and five received monthly intravenous boluses of cyclophosphamide plus testosterone (100 mg intramuscularly every 15 days). MEASUREMENTS: Sperm counts, serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and serum luteinizing hormone levels were measured before, during, and after treatment with cyclophosphamide alone or cyclophosphamide plus testosterone. RESULTS: The 10 patients who did not receive testosterone became azoospermic during cyclophosphamide therapy. In only 1 of the 10 patients did the sperm count return to normal 6 months after discontinuation of therapy. Follicle-stimulating hormone levels were elevated in these patients (mean +/- SE, 19.20 +/- 1.28 IU/L in patients receiving oral cyclophosphamide and 16.04 +/- 2.22 IU/L in patients receiving intravenous cyclophosphamide alone). All 5 patients who received testosterone became azoospermic or severely oligospermic during treatment but had a normal sperm count 6 months after the discontinuation of therapy. In these patients, the mean sperm count was 45.78 +/- 3.89 x 10(6)/mL and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were normal (5.08 +/- 0.56 IU/L). CONCLUSION: Testosterone given to men before and during an 8-month cycle of cyclophosphamide therapy for the nephrotic syndrome may preserve fertility.

Adult↗