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PubMed1993

[Normal sperm].

The evaluation of male infertility rationally begins with a study of the characteristics of the semen, notably sperm count and motility assessment. However, this examination is difficult to interpret due to the important intra- and interindividual variability of these parameters, making it impossible to determine accurately the criteria of "normality". In each given subject the characteristics of semen can be influenced by the conditions of sample collection, the length of abstinence, and any disease that may have occurred in the 3 months preceding the examination. To draw firm conclusions from one single examination would be misleading and a second examination is advised. The criteria of normality laid down by WHO are not very useful to determine the degree of fertility in males: one may speak of oligozoospermia when the sperm count is below 20 million/ml, but several recent prospective studies have shown that fertility significantly falls only below 5 million/ml. A threshold value concerning the percentage of normal forms has been established at 30-40%, whereas teratozoospermia has been defined by the WHO as from 50% onwards. Sperm count can be completed by a fine analysis of sperm motions, and this has been made possible by the development of digital microvideographic analysis techniques. However, defining norms for the main parameters of sperm motility is delicate and can only be done by teams of specialists.

Fertility↗
PubMed2003

Altered sexual characteristics in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exposed to 17beta-estradiol and 4-tert-octylphenol during sexual development.

The effects of estrogenic compounds on the development of sexual characteristics in juvenile guppies (Poecilia reticulata) were examined. After exposure for 3 months, the sex ratio was female biased in guppies exposed to 0.5 microg/L 17beta-estradiol (E2) or higher but unaffected by exposure to 4-tert-octylphenol (OP). When exposed to 100 microg/L OP, the male guppy sexual behavior and sperm count were increased. In contrast, the male sperm count was markedly reduced after exposure to a high concentration of E2. The length of the gonopodium (copulatory organ) was increased when exposed to 100 microg/L OP and at all the tested concentrations of E2. Similar concentrations of OP and E2 reduced the gonad weight of the females. The results demonstrate that the development of sexual characteristics in guppies can be disturbed by environmentally realistic concentrations of E2 but higher concentrations of OP are needed to induce similar alterations.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Chromosome aberrations in spermatogonia and sperm abnormalities in Curacron-treated mice.

Curacron is an organophosphorus pesticide widely used in cotton fields. In order to assay its mutagenic potential in mammalian germ cells chromosomal aberrations in spermatogonial cells and sperm abnormalities were examined in mice after Curacron treatment. For studying chromosomal aberrations mice were treated both acutely (single treatment) and subacutely (for 5 consecutive days) with 3 dose levels of Curacron, 12, 36 and 72 mg/kg. Curacron was found to produce a significant increase in structural chromosomal aberrations after acute and subacute treatments. This increase was dose-dependent. A dose-dependent inhibition in mitotic activity in spermatogonia was also found. For studying sperm abnormalities mice were treated for 5 consecutive days with 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg. Morphological sperm abnormalities increased significantly after treatment with Curacron. The increase was dose-dependent. An inhibition of 40.2% in sperm count and of 74.5% in sperm motility occurred after treatment with 60 mg/kg Curacron. These results show that Curacron has a damaging effect on spermatogonial cells as well as on sperm morphology.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

New nonabsorbable stent versus a microsurgical procedure for vasectomy reversal: evaluating tissue reactions at the anastomosis in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a newly designed nonabsorbable polymeric stent for the reconstruction of the vas deferens provided less stricturing at the site of the anastomosis in comparison with the conventional microsurgical reconstruction of the vas deferens. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study in 26 rabbits, comparing the one-layer microscopic sutured procedure with a biocompatible stent. SETTING: University animal laboratory center. INTERVENTION(S): Pre- and postoperative average total sperm count, motility, and progressive motile sperm density (PMSD) levels were measured. Histologic sections were taken from the area of the anastomosis, testes, and epididymi after final semen analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Rates of stricture and semen parameters. RESULT(S): The vas deferens of the rabbits that received a stent showed an inflammatory reaction within the vas wall adjacent to the stent. Transmural histiocytic or eosinophilic reactions were seen in 2/13 (15%) of the stented animals, with atrophy of the epithelium. Histologic cross-sections of the stented vas deferens demonstrated patency. Microscopically sutured rabbits showed more partial obstructions at the site of the anastomosis (5/13 [38%]) with transmural infiltration of lymphocytes and histiocytes. Despite these partial obstructions the vasa were patent. There was a statistically significant difference in favor of the stent with respect to the total sperm count (P=.05). No differences were seen in motility (P=.057) or PMSD (P=.13). CONCLUSION(S): The newly developed stent provided patency rates comparable with the conventional one-layer microscopic procedure but showed significantly less stricturing of the anastomoses.

Absorption↗
PubMed1976

Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone responses to gonadotropin-releasing factor in males with varicoceles.

Five infertile males, ages 25 to 35, with oligospermia and varicocele had following gonadotropin-releasing hormone (LRF) infusion a rise of serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone levels which was not different from that of normal fertile males. The response of these hormones to LRF infusion was unaltered by spermatic vein ligation, but a significant elevation of the sperm count occurred. Thus, improvement in sperm count following spermatic vein ligation is not mediated via changes in peripheral gonadotropin or testosterone concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Male hyperprolactinemia:effects on fertility.

Male hyperprolactinemia was detected in 4% (7 of 171) of infertile men. In seven patients with excessive serum prolactin concentrations, the clinical manifestations were infertility, hypogonadism, impotence, and galactorrhea and the etiologic factors were pituitary adenoma, hypothalamic dysfunction, drug use, and idiopathic. The testes and prostate were small or normal and the semen analysis revealed low semen volume, normal or low sperm count, and normal or impaired sperm motility. The testicular biopsy showed normally preserved seminiferous tubules with normal or decreased spermatogenesis and damaged or fibrotic seminiferous tubules among normal ones. Patients with hyperprolactinemia were investigated by sellar polytomography, visual field examinations, and hormone assays. Treatment with bromocriptine (Parlodel) gave satisfactory results in all patients. The use of bromocriptine with human menopausal gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin was beneficial in treating hypogonadotropic hypogonadism with hyperprolactinemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Characterization of the fertility of Kit haplodeficient male mice.

The role of the proto-oncogene Kit expression during gonadal development, then in differentiated spermatogonia has been thoroughly established. The present study was designed to investigate the consequences of a partial defect in Kit gene expression on sperm fertilizing ability, using Kit haplodeficient mice (kitW-lacZ/+). Same inbred mice (kit+/+) were used as controls. Epididymal sperm characteristics and in vivo fertility were assessed, then in vitro-fertilization experiments were carried out for mice of both genotypes. Epididymal sperm count was drastically reduced, and sperm motility was also decreased in kitW-lacZ/+ compared with kit+/+ males. Both in vivo or in vitro fertility were greatly reduced in kitW-lacZ/+ compared with kit+/+ males. By contrast, the fertility of kitW-lacZ/+ females was apparently unaffected. Additionally, a higher number of spermatozoa with undetected acrosomal contents was revealed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled Pisum sativum agglutinin acrosomal staining after epididymal sperm retrieval in kitW-lacZ/+ mice, whereas no difference was observed after induction of acrosomal reaction in mice of either genotype. Ultra-structural data confirmed the higher frequency of abnormal acrosome in spermatozoa of kitW-lacZ/+ mice. Thus, sperm production is impaired in Kit haplodeficient mice both on a quantitative and a qualitative basis. Finally, we show that one single copy of Kit gene is not sufficient to maintain genuine fertility in male mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Effects of lead on the male reproductive system in mice.

The effect of environmental lead on the male reproductive system has been a major area of concern for several years. Lead toxicity to the male reproductive system of sexually mature male CF-1 mice was investigated by administering two concentrations of lead (0.25% and 0.5%) via drinking water for 6 wk. The low lead dose significantly reduced the number of sperm within the epididymis, while the high dose reduced both the sperm count and percentage of motile sperm and increased the percentage of abnormal sperm within the epididymis. There was no significant effect on testis weight; however, the high-dose treatment significantly decreased the epididymis and seminal vesicle weights as well as overall body weight gain. Plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone (T) levels were not affected by lead administration indicating that in adult male CF-1 mice, lead targets testicular spermatogenesis and sperm within the epididymis to produce reproductive toxicity rather than acting at other sites within the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1989

Variation in, and inter-relationship between, prostaglandin levels and other semen parameters in normal men.

In each of 135 ejaculates from 46 healthy men, semen volume, various sperm parameters and the level of prostaglandins (PGs) were determined. Data were analysed to determine the within- and between-subject variability, the effect of abstinence period and the correlation between different parameters. Data which did not reveal a Gaussian distribution were transformed logarithmically. For all variables the between-subject variance exceeded the variation within subjects (P less than 0.001). Variation in time of abstinence between 1 and 3 days influenced semen volume and sperm content as well as the content of 19-hydroxylated PGs, but did not affect sperm motility or the concentration of PGE or PGF. A significant negative correlation was found between the seminal content of PGE and PGF and the total sperm count as well as the sperm concentration. Sperm motility was related to the balance between the content of 19-hydroxy PGE and 19-hydroxy PGF but not to their separate concentrations. The ratio between 19-hydroxy PGE and 19-hydroxy PGF did not change when the time of abstinence differed. Synthesis of the two 19-hydroxylated PGs seemed to be regulated by the same mechanism, but their hydroxylation capacity still varied considerably between individuals.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Ultrasonic testicular texture and size in 444 men from the general population: correlation to semen quality.

Scrotal ultrasonography was performed in 888 testes of 444 randomly selected men appearing before the medical board prior to military service (Mili group, 287 men, median age 18.8 years), and in employees from an industrial company (Empl group, 157 men, median age 35.6 years). The ultrasonic volume of each testis was calculated from 3 perpendicular measurements. The ultrasonic texture on sectional planes was scored using a scale from 1 to 5, 1 being very regular, 2 slightly irregular, 3 moderately irregular, 4 very irregular or with bright echogenic points, and 5 with demarcated tumor suspicious areas. Orchidometer measurements were performed in 258 men in Mili group, and semen samples were obtained from 121 men in Empl group. The ultrasonic volume of the right testis (median 14.1 ml, range 3.0-31.4 ml) was bigger than that of the left testis (median 13.0 ml, range 3.5-35.2). The volume was dependent on age for men under 20 years, but not for men aged 20 years or more. The subgroup of men with a history of cryptorchidism had a smaller average testicular volume (median 10.5 ml) compared with men with normal descent (median 14.1 ml). Ultrasonic volume was positively correlated to the total sperm count in the ejaculate, to sperm penetration in egg white, and to normal sperm morphology. The echo score distribution showed slightly higher scores in Empl for both the right and the left testis. Men in Empl group were older, and it could not be precluded that this difference was due to age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Dominant lethal test in rats treated with some plant extracts.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the toxic effect of aqueous extracts of Aegle marmelos (AM), Stevia rebaudiana (SR), Pouteria cambodiana (PC) and Clausena excavata (CE) on rats by dominant lethal test. The data of 8-week treatment suggested that none of the extracts adversely affected male body and testicular weights as well as cauda epididymal sperm counts. No notable changes in sperm morphology and motility were observed. On the other hand, sperm count in the CE group was significantly higher as compared to both control and other treatment groups. There were no abnormal changes in the number of implantation sites, number of viable fetuses and number of dead fetuses in females mated with plant extract-treated males relative to controls. Based on these results, it could be concluded that all the investigated plant extracts have no toxic effect on male rat reproduction and progeny outcome.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Seasonality in human semen quality of smokers and non-smokers: effect of temperature.

AIM: To analyse the possible effect of seasonal variation on semen parameters. METHODS: The participants consisted of 1,688 men attending the andrology laboratory between 1991 and 1997 for reduced fertility in the couple. Semen analysis was performed according to the WHO manual. The 84 individual months of the study period were each assigned to one of the three groups according to the average monthly outside temperature; Group A (temperature < 4.4 degrees C), Group B (4.4 degrees C - 13.3 degrees C) and Group C (>13.3 degrees C). RESULTS: When comparing the different sperm parameters, the morphology was significantly better in Group C. However, when the smokers were analysed separately, this difference disappeared and significant seasonal variations were found in sperm density, total sperm count, motility and total motile sperm; they were deteriorated in the warmer season. In non-smokers, no such negative effect of increased temperature was observed. CONCLUSION: Sperm quality is influenced by seasonal factors. Increased environmental temperature, (maybe also light exposure) has an additional negative effect on the spermatogenesis in smokers, leading to reduced sperm quality in men with borderline fertility.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Techniques of sperm selection and in vitro fertilization results.

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of four techniques for sperm selection in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. Swim Up, Percoll, Sedimentation and Mini-Percoll were evaluated in 440 IVF cycles. The various methods were performed according to the motility and the number of spermatozoa, and the degree of cellularity of the sample; Swim Up and Percoll were used when sperm count was superior 20 million/ml, Sedimentation and Mini-Percoll when the sperm count was less than 20 million/ml. There was no difference in fertilization rate and in the number of replaced embryos per transfer with Swim Up compared to Percoll procedure; the Sedimentation technique improved fertilization (p < 0.05) and embryos rate (p < 0.001) compared to Mini-Percoll sperm preparation. There was no difference in pregnancy rate with Swim Up compared to Percoll and Sedimentation compared to Mini-Percoll procedure. We conclude that with advanced reproductive procedures where serious sperm disorders exist, the choose of the tecnique of sperm selection, most appropriate, according with the motility and the number of spermatozoa, the debrits and nonspermatic cells of the semen, might produce a suspension of spermatozoa with high fertilization potential.

Cell Separation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of three sperm preparation media.

OBJECTIVE: In assisted reproduction, spermatozoa must be effectively separated from seminal plasma to undergo capacitation, a prerequisite for fertilization. Percoll was recently withdrawn from the American market because of safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of sperm separated by two different sperm washing media, and compare these results to sperm quality after separation on a Percoll (Perwash) gradient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples from 10 normozoospermic men were compared after separation on three media: Perwash, a Percoll-type medium (Conception Technologies, La Jolla, CA), ISolate (Irvine Scientific, Santa Ana, CA), and SpermFertil (Embryotech Laboratories, Wilmington, MA). Semen characteristics examined were: sperm count, percentage motility, curvilinear velocity, lateral head displacement, percentage recovery of motile sperm, viability, hypo-osmotic swelling, and penetration in bovine cervical mucus. Sperm morphology was scored using World Health Organization and Kruger's strict criteria. The motility of the sperm was examined at one-hour intervals for three hours to determine which method produced samples with the longest period of motility. RESULTS: Total motile sperm count, motility, curvilinear velocity, and percentage of normal morphological forms as determined by the WHO method were significantly lower in specimens prepared by SpermFertil than in ISolate or Perwash specimens (P < .05). Tail abnormalities were significantly more frequent in specimens prepared by SpermFertil than in ISolate and Perwash specimens (P < .001). Percentage recovery of motile sperm was significantly higher in ISolate and Perwash specimens than in SpermFertil specimens (P < .05). Semen characteristics were similar in specimens prepared with ISolate and with Perwash. At all time intervals, sperm motility was higher in ISolate and Perwash specimens than in SpermFertil specimens (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Sperm samples separated with a SpermFertil column have poorer sperm quality in several respects than samples prepared with ISolate or Perwash. This finding and the similarity between ISolate and Percoll procedures suggests that ISolate is a good alternative to Percoll-type media to prepare sperm for assisted reproduction.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

Body mass index in relation to semen quality and reproductive hormones among 1,558 Danish men.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and semen quality among young men from the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Danish young men were approached when they attended a compulsory physical examination to determine their fitness for military service. PATIENT(S): From 1996-1998, 1,558 (19%) young men (mean age 19 years) volunteered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semen volume (in milliliters), sperm concentration (in million per milliliter), percentage of motile spermatozoa, percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology, total sperm count (in million), and testis size (in milliliters). In addition, serum reproductive hormones were measured. RESULT(S): Serum T, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and inhibin B all decreased with increasing BMI, whereas free androgen index and E(2) increased with increasing BMI. Serum FSH was higher among slim men. After control for confounders, men with a BMI <20 kg/m(2) had a reduction in sperm concentration and total sperm count of 28.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.3%-47.9%) and 36.4% (95% CI 14.6%-58.3%), respectively, and men with a BMI >25 kg/m(2) had a reduction in sperm concentration and total sperm count of 21.6% (95% CI 4.0%-39.4%) and 23.9% (95% CI 4.7%-43.2%), respectively, compared to men with BMI between 20-25 kg/m(2). Percentages of normal spermatozoa were reduced, although not significantly, among men with high or low BMI. Semen volume and percentage of motile spermatozoa were not affected by BMI. CONCLUSION(S): High or low BMI was associated with reduced semen quality. It remains to be seen whether the increasing occurrence of obesity in the Western world may contribute to an epidemic of poor semen quality registered in some of the same countries. If so, some cases of subfertility may be preventable.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of tamoxifen on spermatogenesis in subfertile men.

Forty three subfertile male patients exhibiting a wide range of sperm counts received Tamoxifen (Nolvadex, I.C.I.) 20 mg daily for six months continuously; nine pregnancies resulted, a rate of 21 per cent. Although a significant improvement in sperm output occurred in three patients with initial sperm counts of less than 20 x 10(6)/ml the response was most marked in those with an initial count of less than 5 x 10(6)/ml and four pregnancies occurred in this latter group. Patients whose initial count was greater than 20 million per ml showed no significant response and four exhibited a steady fall in sperm output. No correlation was found between the response to treatment and basal serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin. Four markedly oligozoospermic patients with a significantly elevated FSH, normally associated with severe tubular dysfunction, showed a pronounced increase in sperm count. Seven patients (16 per cent) experienced minor side effects.

Hormones↗
PubMed1985

Hormonal effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist in the human male. III. Effects of long term combined treatment with GnRH agonist and androgen.

Chronic treatment with agonist analogs of GnRH results in reversible oligospermia in man, but leads to impotence and decreased libido due to a concomitant fall in serum testosterone (T) concentrations. We, therefore, assessed the effects of combined treatment with a potent GnRH agonist and T on gonadotropins and spermatogenesis in normal men, anticipating that addition of androgen would prevent agonist-induced changes in libido. Seven normal men were treated with 200 micrograms of the GnRH agonist D-(Nal2)6GnRH (GnRH-A), sc, daily for 16 weeks. In addition, 200 mg T enanthate were administered every 2 weeks for the entire 16-week treatment period. Basal LH, FSH, and T concentrations were measured every week during a 5-week control period, daily on treatment days 0, 1-10, 14, 18, 22, 26, and 28, every week thereafter until day 56, and every 2 weeks thereafter for the remainder of the treatment and recovery phases. Detailed analysis of LH and FSH over the 24-h period was performed by multiple blood sampling on days 0, 1, 10, 28, 56, 84, and 112. Semen analyses were performed every week during the control phase and every 2 weeks during the treatment and recovery phases. The mean sperm count declined by 83%, to a nadir of 16.6 +/- 6.2 (+/- SEM) million/ml. One subject had no significant decrease in sperm count. Azoospermia was not achieved in any subject. Basal serum LH concentrations, after an early phase of stimulation, declined to near baseline by day 14. However, basal, 24-h integrated serum LH concentrations, and 24-h urinary LH excretion were not significantly lowered by combined treatment. Bioassayable serum LH concentrations, however, declined significantly from 20.4 +/- 6.3 to 4.5 +/- 0.5 mIU/ml, and the bioassayable to immunoassayable LH ratio decreased from 2.1 +/- 1.0 to 0.7 +/- 0.1 after 16 weeks of GnRH-A treatment. Basal and 24-h integrated FSH concentrations, after an initial period of stimulation, declined progressively to baseline by days 5-6 and were significantly below baseline by day 112. Serum T concentrations did not fall into the hypogonadal (less than 250 ng/dl) range in any subject at any time during the treatment period. After discontinuation of treatment, LH, FSH, and sperm counts returned to normal in all subjects. Thus, single daily injection of GnRH-A and T failed to predictably induce azoospermia in normal men over the 16-week treatment period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1986

[Autosomal translocation and associated male infertility].

Four balanced autosomal reciprocal translocations were found through mitotic chromosome analysis among 72 subfertile males, 27 with azoospermia and 45 with sperm counts below 40 X 10(6)/ml. They were 46, XY, t(3; 20; 21) with azoospermia, 46, XY, t(14; 21) with sperm counts below 1 X 10(6)/ml, 46, XY, t(1; 19) lqh+ with azoospermia and 46, XY, t(3; 16) with sperm counts 27 X 10(6)/ml. Histological, cytogenetic and hormonal analysis were performed. Testicular biopsies from the first 3 carriers revealed complete spermatogenic arrest at the spermatocyte stage and meiotic studies of the same biopsies showed severe reduction in numbers of cells in 2nd meiotic division. In spite of severely defective spermatogenesis, serum gonadotropins of the carriers were within normal range, except for LH of the 4th case. Other chromosomal aberrations observed were 5 Klinefelter's syndrome, 2 autosomal minor variants (46, XY, 15p+ and 46, XY, 14s+) and 1 small Y.

Chromosomes, Human, 1-3↗