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PubMed1997

Micromachined analytical devices: microchips for semen testing.

Micromachined devices (microchips) have been designed and tested for a range of clinically important assays. In this study we compare sperm motility determined using disposable glass microchips and a conventional Makler chamber. The 17 x 14 mm glass microchips contained three etched test structures each comprising either duplicate or quadruplicate analytical microchannels. Semen samples with sperm counts ranging from 21 to 78 million sperm per ml and forward progression scores of from 1+ to 3+ were evaluated and swimming times ranging from 360 s (3.3+ progression) to 770 s (1+,2 forward progression) observed in the microchips. Motility determined by the time taken for sperm to swim to the end of a microchannel (100 microns wide x 40 microns deep x 10 mm long) in the microchip correlated with forward progression of the sperm determined by the conventional Makler chamber method. This study demonstrates the feasibility of microchips for sperm motility testing and suggests that this technique would be applicable to the study of other types of motile cells.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed1990

Differences in the quality of semen in outdoor workers during summer and winter.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: In warm climates throughout the world, there is a deficit of births during the spring season. To determine whether this deficit might reflect a deleterious effect of heat on the male reproductive capacity during the previous summer, we obtained semen specimens in summer and winter from normal men who worked outdoors in the vicinity of San Antonio, Texas, and we performed automated semen analyses with an image-analysis system. RESULTS: Pairwise comparisons among 131 men without azoospermia who contributed specimens in both summer and winter revealed significant reductions during the summer in sperm concentration, total sperm count per ejaculate, and concentration of motile sperm. The mean decreases in these values after adjustment for potential confounding characteristics were 32 percent (95 percent confidence limits, 28 and 44 percent), 24 percent (95 percent confidence limits, 18 and 43 percent), and 28 percent (95 percent confidence limits, 24 and 44 percent), respectively (P less than 0.0001). The lower a subject's average sperm concentration and motile-sperm concentration, the greater the reduction. We found no correlation, however, between the number of hours per day spent working during summer in settings without air conditioning and either the summer sperm concentration or the difference in concentration between summer and winter. Among the children of the men in the study whose wives were living near San Antonio during the year before they gave birth, a disproportionately low number were born during the spring. CONCLUSIONS: Semen quality deteriorates during the summer. This phenomenon may account at least in part for the reduction in the birth rate during the spring in regions with warm climates.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Mice with Y chromosome deletion and reduced Rbm genes on a heterozygous Dazl1 null background mimic a human azoospermic factor phenotype.

A subset of azoospermia or oligozoospermia patients have microdeletions in defined regions of their Y chromosome, namely the AZFa, b, and c regions. Candidate genes in humans that may cause the azoospermia factor (AZF) phenotype have been assigned to these regions and can include the DAZ and RBM genes. Part of the variability in the AZFc phenotype might be due to interaction between the effects of deleting the DAZ and RBM genes. We mimicked human deletions of RBM and DAZ in the mouse by crossing male mice with a deleted Y chromosome with a reduced number of Rbm genes (Y(d1)) to heterozygote Dazl1 null female mice to study the interaction of the Dazl1 and Rbm or other genes located in the Y(d1) deletion interval. Dazl-/+ Y(d1) animals showed a significant reduction in the sperm count (P < 0.001), an increase of abnormal sperm heads and prominent mid-piece defects of the tails compared to either mutation alone (P < 0.001). Hence, Dazl1 and the genes removed on the Y(d1) chromosome are active in different pathways contributing to different stages of spermatogenesis. Reduction of Dazl1 and Rbm genes as well as/or deletion of the Y chromosome in mice gives rise to a phenotype similar to the heterogeneous AZFc phenotype observed in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Increased sperm mitochondrial DNA content in male infertility.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) anomalies in sperm may lead to infertility. Point mutations, deletions and the presence of a specific mtDNA haplogroup have been associated with poor sperm quality, but little attention has been paid to the role of mtDNA content. METHODS: Using density gradient separation and swim-up methods, we selected motile sperm from 32 normal and 35 abnormal sperm samples. The mtDNA/beta-globin gene ratio was determined by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The average mtDNA/beta-globin ratio of sperm collected from 100% density layers was 1.4 for normal sperm, 6.1 for sperm samples presenting at least one abnormal criterion [among the three criteria established by World Health Organization (1999), i.e. sperm count, motility and morphology], and 9.1 for sperm samples presenting two or more of these abnormal criteria. These differences are very highly significant (P < 0.0001). The mtDNA numbers were also much greater in sperm collected from the 40% density gradient layers (mean: 17.1, P < 0.001), known to contain the most abnormal sperm of the sperm samples, than in those collected from the 100% layers known to contain sperm with the best fertilizing ability. CONCLUSION: Our results showed significant mtDNA amplification in sperm collected from abnormal sperm samples.

Computer Systems↗
PubMed2005

Transurethral resection of the ejaculatory ducts for treating ejaculatory symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with transurethral resection of the ejaculatory ducts (TURED) in infertile men with symptomatic ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Before surgery, all patients complained of a decrease in the volume of their ejaculate, 14 of 15 had a non-projectile ejaculation, nine had a genitourinary infection necessitating antibiotic treatment, and five had pain with orgasm. The mean ejaculate volume and total motile sperm count was 1.1 mL and 8.1 million sperm per ejaculate. After surgery, at a mean follow-up of 2 months, 10 men reported having projectile ejaculation, and eight reported a marked improvement in their sensation of orgasm. Overall, 14 men reported a subjective improvement in their ejaculation. The average postoperative ejaculate volume was 2.3 mL and the total motile sperm count was 38.1 million per ejaculate. CONCLUSIONS: Men with symptomatic EDO who underwent TURED showed improvements in their ejaculation, sensation of orgasm, semen analysis values and fertility.

Constriction, Pathologic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of subchronic treatment with cis-platinum on testicular function, fertility, pregnancy outcome, and progeny.

Cis-platinum-based chemotherapy is known to impair spermatogenesis, but the effects of paternal cis-platinum treatment on the progeny are unknown. To study this effect, sexually mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered intraperitoneal injections of saline or cis-platinum (0.5 mg/kg per day) for 9 weeks. Every week, one set of control and treated animals was mated with females in proestrus. Nineteen days later, the females were subjected to laparotomy, and the numbers of corpora lutea, resorptions, and normal and abnormal fetuses were noted. In conjunction, the effects of treatment on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis of the treated males were evaluated. Cis-platinum-treated animals failed to grow; the weights of the reproductive organs and the sperm counts declined from week 2 onward, and sperm motility was reduced throughout the testing period. Circulating and intratesticular levels of testosterone declined from week 3 of treatment and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were not affected. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone declined from week 3 and were not detectable from week 6 onward. However, the pituitary response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone was intact in all treated groups. There was no significant decrease in fertility, but a prominent increase in pre- and postimplantation losses of fetuses after cis-platinum treatment was observed. There was also a decrease in the male-to-female ratio of the offspring. A small but significant number of malformed and growth-retarded fetuses was also found among the offspring of cis-platinum-treated males. These results suggest that subchronic treatment with low doses of cis-platinum may affect progeny; such effects are seen in addition to the apparent alteration in a number of measures of reproductive function of treated males.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hormone treatment after irradiation stimulates recovery of rat spermatogenesis from surviving spermatogonia.

The possibility of stimulating the recovery of spermatogenesis after irradiation using hormone treatment was tested in LBNF, rats. At 10 weeks after irradiation with 3.5 Gy, the percentage of tubules showing recovery of spermatogenesis (repopulation index) was 37% in rats that received no hormone treatment. GnRH agonist (GnRH-Ag) treatment with Zoladex or continuous treatment with testosterone markedly stimulated the recovery of spermatogenesis. When GnRH-Ag treatment was started immediately after 3.5-Gy irradiation and maintained for 10 weeks, the repopulation index was 91%. When an additional 6.5 weeks without further treatment was allowed between the 10-week GnRH treatment and killing the rats, the repopulation index recovered to 100% and sperm counts to 83 x 10(6). These sperm counts were more than 100-fold higher than those in rats not given hormone treatment and 50% of normal nonirradiated control levels. GnRH-Ag for 10 weeks also stimulated spermatogenic recovery in rats irradiated with 6 Gy, even when the start of treatment was delayed until 18 weeks after irradiation. Without GnRH-Ag, the repopulation index was 0, but in GnRH-Ag-treated rats it was 14.5%. Since all of the hormone treatments suppress intratesticular testosterone, high levels of testosterone may be inhibiting differentiation and their suppression may stimulate recovery. Even though the exact mechanism is not yet known, this method may still be applicable for clinical use to activate spermatogenesis in patients rendered azoospermic by irradiation or possibly by other cytotoxic treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Endocrine disruptors and human health: is there a problem.

It has been hypothesized that endocrine-active chemicals (EACs) may be responsible for the increased incidence of breast cancer and disorders of the male reproductive tract. Synthetic chemicals with estrogenic activity (xenoestrogen) and the organochlorine environmental contaminants polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDE have been the prime etiologic suspects. However, results of extensive research on PCBs and DDE does not show a correlation between PCB/DDE exposure and development of breast cancer. Studies also show that sperm count levels vary with demography, and the hypothesized coordinate global decrease in sperm counts and other disorders of the male reproductive tract is not supported by published data. In contrast, testicular cancer is increasing in most countries, and causal environmental/lifestyle factors for this disease are unknown.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

The effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the neuroendocrine-male reproductive tract axis of the adult rat.

Studies in the streptozotocin rat model for diabetes mellitus suggest that sexual dysfunction in these animals may result from diabetes-induced alterations of the neuroendocrine-reproductive tract axis. Our investigation was performed to better define the effects of diabetes on the neuroendocrine sex accessory organ axis in the male rat. Rats were rendered diabetic, and were either left untreated or treated with insulin, testosterone or both. Diabetes resulted in decreased body and reproductive organ weights, as well as diminished sperm counts and motility and prostatic acid phosphatase. Seminal fructose was increased. A significant decrease in serum LH, FSH and testosterone was noted. Insulin treatment of the diabetic rats restored serum gonadotropins, reproductive organ weight, sperm counts and motility, and seminal fructose to control levels. Prostatic weight and prostatic acid phosphatase levels remained abnormal. Testosterone restored the above mentioned parameters to control levels, with the exception of LH. Treatment with insulin and testosterone had a synergistic effect on spermatogenesis. A GnRH stimulation test demonstrated that pituitaries of diabetic animals had a blunted response, with diminished LH and FSH secretion. In the diabetic animal, there are both pituitary and testicular abnormalities which may be responsible for reproductive dysfunction.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effect of cyclosporine on fertility in male rats.

The effect of cyclosporine (CsA) on fertility has assumed greater importance with the increasing numbers of pediatric transplantations being performed all over the world. Conflicting reports on the effects of CsA on sex hormones are available. This experimental animal study was designed to examine the effect of CsA on testicular weight, sperm counts, seminiferous tubular diameter (STD), testicular morphology, DNA flowcytometry, sex hormone levels, and fertility in male rats. Those rats who received CsA (20 mg/kg per day) showed significant reductions in testicular weight (P < 0.05), sperm count (P < 0.01), Johnsen score (P < 0.05), STD (P < 0.01), serum testosterone levels (P < 0.05), haploid cell population (P < 0. 001) in the testis, and fertility (P < 0.001) compared to those receiving CsA 10 mg/kg per day and control rats. These findings will have an important bearing for children receiving cyclosporine for long periods to guide the physician in optimally adjusting long-term treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Gonadal dysfunction in uremic men. A study of the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis before and after renal transplantation.

Evaluation of testicular function in 13 hemodialyzed patients revealed the following: plasma testosterone (ng/100 ml) was low (less than 300 ng/100 ml) in 6 and low normal in 7 patients; sperm counts ranged from 0 to 8 million/ml and motility from 0 to 8 per cent; testicular tissue from 2 patients showed an abnormal histologic picture ranging from hypospermatogenesis to germinal cell aplasia. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH, ng/ml) was normal in eight (10 to 217 ng/ml), and persistently eveated in five patients (265 to 760 ng/ml). Of the latter five patients, two were azzoospermic, one had germinal cell aplasia on postmortem examination, one had virtually no viable sperms, and the other was never able to furnish ejaculate for examination. Luteinizing hormone (LH, mg/ml) was high (more than 210 ng/ml) in five and normal in eight patients. Six patients when given clomiphene showed the normal response of increased FSH and LH release. Four of the 13 patients, when restudied 6 to 12 months later and while still on dialysis, showed further deterioration of plasma testosterone and sperm counts. Four of the patients subsequently underwent successful renal transplantation. All showed improvement in sperm counts (20 to 40 million/ml, motility 40 to 90 per cent) and plasma testosterone (440 to 850 ng/100 ml). These data suggest that both germinal cell and leydig cell functions were impaired among uremic men. These dysfunctions were not correctable by hemodialysis, but were completely reversed by renal transplantation. The high FSH among patients with azzospermia indicates a responsive pituitary. The positive response to clomiphene suggests that storage as well as release of both hypothalamic and pituitary hormones were normal. Attempts to localize a single defect at the testis failed to explain the post-transplant surge of FSH which invariably proceded improvement in spermatogenesis. It is therefore postulated that a defect in that portion of the hypothalamus involved in the receipt and/or interpretation of message might be at fault in uremia.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Reduced activity of Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in seminal fluid of patients with oligozoospermia.

Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity, fructose and divalent cation concentrations were determined in seminal plasmas from men with oligozoospermic ejaculates and from those with normal sperm count. The mean activity of the Mg2+- and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase from the former was 59 nmol . 0.1 ml-1 . This is significantly (p less than 0.005) lower than for men with a normal sperm count (corresponding figure is 87 nmol . 0.1m1-1 . min-1). As regards the concentrations of Mg2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ in the seminal plasmas from these two groups there was no significant difference. The same was also valid for the fructose concentrations. The Mg2+- and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity as well as fructose and divalent cation concentrations were also determined in seminal plasmas from men before and after vasectomy. After vasectomy, only the ejaculates devoid of spermatozoa were included in the comparative studies. No significant difference was observed between the seminal plasmas from men before and after vasectomy. These findings support the view that the Mg2+- and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase system does not derive from the spermatozoa. Possible explanations for the significantly lowered Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity from patients with oligozoospermia are given.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2002

Individualized homeopathic therapy for male infertility.

This prospective observational pilot study investigated the effect of individualized homeopathy on male infertility based on sperm count, hormone values and general health. Forty-five subfertile men were treated with single homeopathic remedies for an average of 10.3 months. The drugs were prescribed on the basis of the overall symptomatic situation. The variables 'sperm density', 'percentage of sperm with good progressive motility' and 'density of sperm with good propulsive motility' improved significantly, especially in cases of oligoasthenozoospermia. The general health of patients improved significantly. The following factors emerged as positive predictors of therapy success: alcohol consumption below 30 g/day, non-smoking, the presence of less than five dental amalgam fillings, no exposure to noxious substances at the workplace and no previous inflammatory genital diseases. The factors stress, age above 36, high coffee consumption and long duration of unwanted childlessness did not have a negative impact on therapy outcome in this study. The rate of improvement in sperm count through homeopathic therapy is comparable to the improvement achieved by conventional therapy, so that individualized-homeopathic treatment may be considered a useful alternative to conventional treatment of subfertile men. For further investigation, a randomised, therapy-controlled clinical study with parallel group design would be useful (homeopathic therapy vs conventional andrological therapy).

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination in subfertility. How many treatment cycles are sufficient?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the combined effects of factors influencing the pregnancy rates following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). STUDY DESIGN: After utilizing the couple as the unit of analysis, 416 couples undergoing COH and IUI with the husband's sperm were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: The woman's age, postwash total motile sperm counts and number of IUI treatment cycles were three major factors that affected the results of IUI. The predicted cumulative pregnancy rates under different values of the above three factors were therefore calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis and were compared to the pregnancy rate achieved by a cycle of in vitro fertilization and tubal embryo transfer. CONCLUSION: Three treatment cycles of IUI are optimal for women aged < or = 34 with postwash total motile sperm counts > 5 x 10(6). For women either aged > or = 35 or with postwash total motile sperm counts < 5 x 10(6), the cumulative pregnancy rates achieved by IUI are extremely low, and other means of assisted reproduction are recommended for couples in those categories. However, this conclusion pertains to our clinics, and other institutions should establish their own data.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effects of STS-557 and 20 Aet-1 on sperm functions and serum level of testosterone in bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata).

Treatment of adult male bonnet monkeys with STS-557 (17 alpha-cyanomethyl 17 beta-hydroxy estra-4, 9(10)-dien-3-one; 12 mg/monkey daily for 15 weeks; i.m.) reduced the sperm count from the 9th week, leading close to azoospermia on the 2nd post-treatment week which persisted until the 10th post-treatment week and normalcy was restored on the 13th post-treatment week. The sperm motility was reduced from the 9th week of treatment to 8th post-treatment week. The fertilizing ability of spermatozoa (formation of swollen sperm head or pronuclei in zona-free hamster eggs) was abolished from the 8th week of treatment to the 7th post-treatment week. The serum level of testosterone was reduced from the 2nd to 12th week of treatment (data on subsequent weeks were not collected). When 20 Aet-1 (testosterone-trans-4-n butyl cyclohexyl carboxylate; 40 mg/monkey, single; i.m.) was administered on the first day of STS-557 treatment, the sperm count was reduced from the 10th week, with near azoospermia ensuing on the 13th week which continued until the 8th post-treatment week; recovery was observed on the 12th post-treatment week. The motility was low from the 8th week of treatment to 6th week after withdrawal of treatment. The fertilizing ability of spermatozoa was abolished from the 8th week to the 12th week of treatment (data on last week of treatment were not collected). The serum level of testosterone was maintained within normal range except on the 2nd, 6th and 12th week of treatment. 20 Aet-1 alone had no significant effect on these parameters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Male infertility and medically assisted procreation].

Three hundred thirty patients underwent in vitro fertilization in our centre since 1985. Fifty two percent of them presented an abnormal spermogram (sperm count less than or equal to 20 X 10/ml; mobility less than 40%; teratospermia greater than 60%). In those cases, lack of fertilization is statistically increased but pregnancy rate per transfer is similar to this observed with pure female cases. Sperm count, mobility and teratospermia influence the success rate but are not sufficient criteria of ability to fertilize. On the other hand, hamster test is without predictive interest.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selenium supplementation enhances the element concentration in blood and seminal fluid but does not change the spermatozoal quality characteristics in subfertile men.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of selenium (Se) supplementation on Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in blood components and seminal fluid and on spermatozoal quality characteristics in subfertile men. Thirty-three men were supplemented for 12 weeks with 200 micrograms Se/day in the form of yeast-rich Se (group I, n = 16) or sodium selenite (group II, n = 17). Blood samples and sperm were collected at the start of the study and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks following Se supplementation. Se concentration in whole blood and plasma and GSH-Px activity in red cells and plasma increased significantly during the study, but in the group supplemented with yeast-Se the effect was more pronounced. Se concentration in seminal fluid also increased in both groups, but the effect of yeast-Se was markedly higher than that of selenite. In both groups statistically significant correlations were found between Se concentration in plasma and seminal fluid. GSH-Px activity in seminal fluid in the yeast-Se group increased significantly and reached a plateau after 2 weeks, whereas in the selenite group the activity did not change throughout the whole study period. Weak correlations between Se concentrations and GSH-Px activities in seminal fluid were seen, but only in the yeast-Se group were the relations statistically significant. The subjects in both groups showed no response in sperm count, motility, and morphology. In conclusion, we can ascertain that the supplementation of subfertile men with yeast-rich Se showed a more pronounced effect on Se concentrations and GSH-Px activities in blood components and seminal fluid than selenite did. Se supplementation did not improve the spermatozoal quality characteristics of sperm count, motility and, morphology.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Age-related disease pattern in infertile men: increasing incidence of infections in older patients.

In a cross-sectional retrospective study, the age-dependency of semen parameters of men with specific andrological diseases was investigated in 3,698 men (mean age 33 years; range 19-63 years) attending a tertiary referral clinic for couple infertility. In all, 1,853 patients suffered from idiopathic infertility (mean age 33.2 years; range 19-60 years), 388 from infections of the accessory glands (34.2; 20-61), 363 had a history of maldescended testes (32.0; 20-51) and 833 a varicocele (33.6; 20-63). In 172 patients, a varicocele and an infection (34.3; 24-54) and in 94 a varicocele and a history of maldecended testes (32.5; 21-53) were found. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO criteria. An age-related decrease in testicular volume was not observed in any group. Total sperm count decreased significantly with advancing age only in patients with an infection of the accessory glands. We found no evidence for age-dependent progressive deterioration of semen variables in the other groups. It may be concluded that the causes for the spermatogenetic defects in men with idiopathic infertility, a history of maldescended testes or varicocele are acquired before adolescence and do not progress during adulthood. In contrast, infections of the accessory glands may lead to decreased sperm counts by functional impairment or partial occlusion of the seminal ducts. Thus, if in the general population declining sperm counts are observed, genital tract infections may be suspected as a contributing factor.

Adult↗