MP38-17 THE PROFILE OF HUMAN SPERM OXYSTEROLS IN NORMAL AND SUBFERTILE PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTRE STUDY

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyInfertility: Basic Research & Pathophysiology (MP38)1 Apr 2020MP38-17 THE PROFILE OF HUMAN SPERM OXYSTEROLS IN NORMAL AND SUBFERTILE PATIENTS: RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE MULTICENTRE STUDY Antonio Luigi Pastore*, Andrea Fuschi, Yazan Al Salhi, Gennaro Velotti, Lorenzo Capone, Alessia Martoccia, Pietro Paolo Suraci, Chiara Zerbinati, Luigi Iuliano, and Antonio Carbone Antonio Luigi Pastore*Antonio Luigi Pastore* More articles by this author , Andrea FuschiAndrea Fuschi More articles by this author , Yazan Al SalhiYazan Al Salhi More articles by this author , Gennaro VelottiGennaro Velotti More articles by this author , Lorenzo CaponeLorenzo Capone More articles by this author , Alessia MartocciaAlessia Martoccia More articles by this author , Pietro Paolo SuraciPietro Paolo Suraci More articles by this author , Chiara ZerbinatiChiara Zerbinati More articles by this author , Luigi IulianoLuigi Iuliano More articles by this author , and Antonio CarboneAntonio Carbone More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000000887.017AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Cholesterol is the main lipid component of sperm cell that is essential for sperm membrane fluidity, capacitation, and acrosomal reaction. Recent data obtained in bovine sperm showed that sperm capacitation is associated with the formation of oxysterols, oxidized products of cholesterol. The main objective of the present study was to identify and quantify, for the first time, the different species of oxysterols in human semen from normozoospermic, oligoasthenoteratozoospermic and asthenozoospermic patients. The secondary aim was to investigate the potential role of oxysterols in sperm pathophysiology. METHODS: To investigate the profile of human sperm oxysterols in subjects with normal and altered sperm characteristics, we recruited 150 consecutive subjects referring at the Centre of Andrology of Department of Urology for analysis of seminal fluid between March 2017 and June 2018. In order to investigate the possible correlation to oxidative stress and semen oxysterols profile, we included a group of patients with varicocele given the demonstrated relationship between varicocele and oxidative stress. Semen analysis was assessed by light microscope according to World Health Organization guidelines (WHO, 2010). Oxysterols were determined by GC–MS using deuterium-labelled internal standards as described by Dzeletovic et al. RESULTS: Complete oxysterol profile was obtained in 134 human semen of normozoospermic, oligoasthenoteratozoospermic, asthenozoospermic and varicocele patients. Oxysterols analyzed included seven autoxidation- and five enzymatically-generated oxysterols. Among the 12 oxysterols analyzed, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) resulted the most abundant oxysterol in normozoospermic subjects, and turned out to be the only one that differed significantly (p<0.0001) among the 4 groups. It was higher in the normozoospermic group (21.63±18.47 ng/mL, mean±SD) than oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (2.59±2.93, ng/mL, mean±SD), asthenozoospermic (5.59±3.17) and varicocele (13.48±11.81, ng/mL, mean±SD) groups. Furthermore, 25-HC positively correlated with the spermatozoa number (r=0.72, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study providing evidence for the feasibility of detection and quantification of oxysterols in human semen samples. We found in spermatozoa the presence of cholesterol 25-hydroxylase and its preferential accumulation in the neck and the post acrosomal area. 25-HC was able to induce calcium ions and cholesterol depletion in the acrosomal region, in an extent comparable to that of a capacitating medium. This finding offers the opportunity to identify a new molecular player involved in pre-fertilization processes. Source of Funding: None © 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 203Issue Supplement 4April 2020Page: e575-e576 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2020 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Antonio Luigi Pastore* More articles by this author Andrea Fuschi More articles by this author Yazan Al Salhi More articles by this author Gennaro Velotti More articles by this author Lorenzo Capone More articles by this author Alessia Martoccia More articles by this author Pietro Paolo Suraci More articles by this author Chiara Zerbinati More articles by this author Luigi Iuliano More articles by this author Antonio Carbone More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...