Correlation between human sperm hypo-osmotic swelling test and other semen parameters

Impact of chronic hepatitis B virus infection on semen parameters of fertile men

Aim: To investigate the effect of chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection on semen parameters of males with proven fertility. Material & methods: 61 fertile men with CHB infection and a control group of 42 HBV-negative fertile men were assessed for serum and semen HBV viral loads by quantitative real-time PCR, complete semen analysis, hypo-osmotic swelling test, seminal total peroxide, total antioxidant capacity assay and sperm DNA integrity evaluation. Results: CHB men demonstrated significantly lower sperm motility, sperm viability and sperm DNA integrity, seminal total antioxidant capacity assay and significantly increased seminal total peroxide and oxidative stress index compared with controls. CHB cases with positive semen HBV DNA showed a significant increase in seminal total peroxide and oxidative stress index compared with CHB cases with negative semen HBV DNA. Conclusion: CHB has a negative burden on seminal parameters in fertile men.

Does being overweight affect seminal variables in fertile men?

The effect of being overweight on seminal variables was assesed in 165 fertile men. Participants were divided into three groups: fertile men with normal body mass index (BMI) (18.5-24.9 kg/m²), fertile overweight men (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m²) and fertile obese men (BMI >30 kg/m²). Medical history was taken, a clinical examination conducted. Semen analysis was undertaken and BMI measured. Seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) was estimated by chemiluminescent assay, sperm vitality by the hypo-osmotic swelling test and sperm DNA fragmentation by propidium iodide staining with flowcytometry. Fertile obese men had significantly lower sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility and sperm normal morphology, with significantly higher seminal ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation compared with fertile normal-weight men and overweight men (all P < 0.05). BMI was negatively correlated with sperm concentration (r = -0.091; P = 0.014), progressive sperm motility (r = -0.697; P = 0.001), normal sperm morphology (r = -0.510; P = 0.001), sperm vitality (r = -0.586; P = 0.001), but positively correlated with sperm DNA fragmentation percentage (r = 0.799; P = 0.001) and seminal ROS (r = 0.673; P = 0.001). Increased BMI was found to affect semen parameters negatively even in fertile men.

In vitro study of cypermethrin on human spermatozoa and the possible protective role of vitamins C and E

Cypermethrin, a type II synthetic pyrethroid pesticide, is widely used in pest control programmes in agriculture and public health. This study aimed to assess the potential effect of cypermethrin on human spermatozoa and the possible ameliorative effects of vitamins C and E. Semen samples of 20 healthy normozoospermic men were divided into six aliquots at room temperature. The first aliquot served as control not exposed to treatments, and the second was incubated with 20 mm vit. C and 2 mm vit. E where the third one was exposed to 10 μm cypermethrin for 6 h. The other three aliquots were incubated with vit. C, vit. E and both vitamins for 30 min before cypermethrin exposure. Semen aliquots were analysed for sperm motility, sperm viability, hypo-osmotic swelling test and modified alkaline comet assay. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in sperm motion, sperm function and increased sperm DNA damage in the cypermethrin group. Addition of vitamins C and E alone/combined led to significant improvement in sperm motion, sperm function and DNA damage, being maximal with both vitamins together. It is concluded that in vitro cypermethrin can alter sperm function and induce DNA damage in spermatozoa, which is improved after using vitamins C and E.

Smoking influence on sperm vitality, DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species and zinc in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men with varicocele

This study aimed to assess the influence of smoking duration and intensity on sperm vitality, sperm DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and zinc (Zn) levels in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men with varicocele (Vx). A total of 246 men were investigated who were divided into OAT nonsmokers, OAT smokers, OAT nonsmokers and OAT smokers with Vx. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and semen analysis. In their semen, sperm hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, sperm DNA fragmentation test, seminal ROS and seminal Zn were assessed. The results demonstrated significantly decreased HOS test, seminal Zn level and significantly increased sperm DNA fragmentation, seminal ROS levels in OAT smokers with Vx more than OAT smokers compared with OAT nonsmokers. Smoking intensity, smoking duration and Vx grade demonstrated significant negative correlations with sperm motility, HOS test percentage and significant positive correlations with sperm DNA fragmentation, seminal ROS level. It is concluded that smoking has a negative impact on sperm progressive motility, HOS test, seminal Zn and positive impact on sperm DNA fragmentation, semen ROS level that are exaggerated if Vx is associated being correlated with smoking intensity, smoking duration and Vx grade.

Effect of smoking on sperm vitality, DNA integrity, seminal oxidative stress, zinc in fertile men

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of smoking on sperm vitality, sperm DNA integrity, semen reactive oxygen species, and zinc levels in fertile men.

METHODS

One-hundred sixty men were investigated. They were divided into 2 equal groups: healthy fertile nonsmokers and healthy fertile smokers. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and semen analysis. In their semen, sperm hypo-osmotic swelling test, sperm DNA fragmentation test, seminal reactive oxygen species, and zinc were assessed.

RESULTS

Compared with fertile nonsmokers, fertile smokers were significantly associated with lower hypo-osmotic swelling test and seminal zinc levels and significantly associated with higher sperm DNA fragmentation percent and seminal reactive oxygen species levels.

CONCLUSION

Smoking (cigarettes/day and duration) has detrimental effects on sperm motility, viability, DNA fragmentation, seminal zinc levels, and semen reactive oxygen species levels, even in fertile men, and it is directly correlated with cigarette quantity and smoking duration.

ACE gene insertion/deletion polymorphism seminal associations in infertile men

PURPOSE

We assessed seminal associations of the ACE gene insertion/deletion polymorphism in infertile men.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 405 men were investigated, divided into healthy fertile men, and those with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, respectively. They underwent semen analysis, and assessment of sperm acrosin activity, hypo-osmotic swelling, seminal 8-iso-prostaglandin-F(2α), total antioxidant capacity, α-glucosidase and ACE gene polymorphisms.

RESULT

The ACE insertion/insertion genotype was noted in 182 men, including 76.5% of healthy fertile men, and 47.4%, 39.8% and 17.6% of those with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, respectively. The ACE insertion/deletion genotype was noted in 133 men, including 13.7% of healthy fertile men, and 42.3%, 27.5% and 47.2% of those with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, respectively. The ACE deletion/deletion genotype was identified in 90 men, including 9.8% of healthy fertile men, 10.3%, 32.70% and 35.2% of those with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, respectively. Men with the ACE deletion/deletion and insertion/deletion genotypes showed a significant decrease in sperm count, motility, linear velocity and normal forms, acrosin activity index, hypo-osmotic swelling test and seminal α-glucosidase, and significantly increased seminal 8-iso-prostaglandin-F(2α) than those with the ACE insertion/insertion genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

ACE gene deletion polymorphism is associated with abnormal seminal variables, such that carriers of the ACE deletion/deletion genotype have higher seminal oxidative stress.