Antioxidants Present in Reproductive Tract Fluids and Their Relevance for Fertility.

João C Ribeiro,Branca M Silva,Patrícia C Braga,Ana D Martins,Pedro F Oliveira,Marco G Alves

doi:10.3390/antiox10091441

João C Ribeiro, Branca M Silva + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10091441

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Abstract

Nowadays, infertility is classified as a disease of the reproductive system. Although it does not compromise the life of the individual, it can have detrimental effects on the physiological and psychological health of the couple. Male fertility evaluation is mainly focused on the analysis of sperm parameters. However, the ejaculated fluid is also composed of seminal plasma, and the study of this fluid can provide crucial information to help in the assessment of male fertility status. Total antioxidant capacity of the seminal plasma has been positively correlated with the fertility of men. Moreover, evidence highlights to a similar importance as that of female reproductive tract fluid antioxidant capabilities and female fertility. Herein, we describe the functions of seminal plasma and female reproductive tract fluids, as well as their main antioxidant components and their relationships with fertility outcomes. Additionally, this review contains the most up to date information regarding the mechanisms of the interaction between the male and the female reproductive fluids and the importance of proper antioxidant capacity for fertilization.

Highlights

Infertility issues were mainly attributed to women, but nowadays, such problems are attributed to both sexes in almost equal parts [2]
Understanding the modification of the female genital profile triggered by seminal components that interact with the internal genital lining during the ovulatory period may contribute to improving success rates and outcomes in fertility
Many reports present evidence that seminal plasma antioxidants can have an important role in the protection of the sperm cells against endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS)

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. We will discuss the composition of antioxidants in the seminal plasma and female reproductive tract fluids and its relationship with the fertility of individuals. Seminal plasma functions include: effects on sperm motility, mostly related to proteins found in this fluid [23,24,25]; providing nutrients and osmotic homeostasis for spermatozoa survival [26,27,28,29]; effects on the capacitation process and on the avoidance of premature activation of capacitation [30,31,32]; an active role in the inflammatory response by the female reproductive tract [33,34,35]; the modulation of sperm-egg interactions; and effects on fertilization [36,37,38]. Dysregulation of antioxidant secretion can lead to oxidative stress in the semen, which has been regarded as one of the main causes of male infertility in recent decades [43]

Non-Protein Antioxidants in Seminal Plasma and Male Fertility

Protein Antioxidants Significance for Male Fertility

A Brief Overview of the Physiological Roles of ROS in the Female

Findings

Conclusions