Male Infertility: Pathogenetic Significance of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defence (Review)

Vsevolod Koshevoy,Serhiy Fedorenko,Pavlo Skliarov,Lidia Kostyshyn,Svitlana Naumenko

doi:10.48077/scihor.24(6).2021.107-116

Abstract

The basis of the pathogenesis of male infertility is the processes of peroxide oxidation of biological substrates, especially lipids and proteins. By destroying the sperm membrane, toxic peroxidation products reduce its motility and ability to fertilize the egg, which is determined by a decrease in the number of motile sperm in the ejaculate. These changes lead to complete or partial male infertility. The authors of the review found that is accompanied by a damaging effect on the structural and functional activity of the gonads and is manifested, in particular, by an imbalance in the hormonal background of the male body. Similar effects are characteristic of an increase in the content of reactive Nitrogen species and its metabolites, which cause nitrosative stress, which is also the cause of male hypofertility and is inseparable from the state of oxidative stress. In scientific work it is determined that the accumulation of harmful peroxidation products leads to damage and destruction of sperm DNA, reduced activity of acrosomal enzymes and mitochondrial potential of sperm, reduced overall antioxidant activity. This makes it impossible for an adequate response of the body. Multi component antioxidant defense system resists stress. It is represented by enzymatic and non-enzymatic links, which can neutralize harmful radicals and peroxidation products. It contributes to the full manifestation of reproductive function. The presence of powerful antioxidant properties of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and enzymes of the thiol-disulfide system, which form the enzymatic system of antioxidant protection, as well as selenium, zinc, copper, other trace elements, retinol, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and vitamins as parts of the non-enzymatic system is shown. The efficiency of registration is substantiated thin biochemical shift detectors or complex methods, such as total antioxidant status of sperm or sperm plasma, mitochondrial membrane potential, etc along with simple markers of oxidative stress, such as diene conjugates, malonic dialdehyde, and metabolites of the Nitrogen Oxide cycle. Given the leading role of oxidative stress in the development of male hypofertility, the prospect of further research is the search for modern means for correction, especially among substances with pronounced redox activity

Highlights

The reproductive system of males depends on various factors
We know that low concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important for physiological processes in sperm, such as acrosomal response and interaction of sperm with oocytes, in return the high levels of ROS underlie the imbalance of the prooxidant-antioxidant system, causing oxidative stress (OS), which is one of the most destructive factors affecting sperm function and reducing male reproductive potential [4,5,6,7,8,9]
Influence of nitrogen oxide cycle metabolites on spermatogenesis and sperm quality Experimental studies have shown that the decrease in sperm function in male rats caused by nicotine improves a decrease in NO synthase (NOS) activity, while investigating the effectiveness of L-arginine to inhibit NOS, found a reduction in spermatotoxic effects through a mechanism that depends on circulating testosterone levels [55]

Summary

Introduction

The reproductive system of males depends on various factors. It is subject to many negative influences of the external and internal environment and, as a rule, is not able to respond adequately [1; 2]. ROS/RNS in the body can play both a physiological role and have a negative impact on reproductive ability, causing stress, such as OS and nitrosative stress, accompanied by a decrease in the number of motile sperm, damage to their membranes and acrosomal enzymes, mitochondrial dysfunction of germ cells.

Results

Conclusion