Abnormal Semen Profile Research Articles

Clinical Presentations and Semen Characteristics of Men Attending the Secondary Referral Infertility Clinic at Mumbai, India.

Background:Limited information is available on the aetiology and semen profiles of male infertility in Indian population.Aim:The aim of this study is to study the clinical and semen characteristics of men attending the infertility clinic and also to understand the impact of World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 reference values on the diagnosis of male infertility.Setting and Design:A retrospective study evaluating the medical case records (January 2005 to December 2015, [n = 1906]) of men attending infertility clinic in Mumbai, India.Materials and Methods:The aetiology was classified based on the andrology evaluation and other investigations. Semen profiles were compared during the years 2005–2010 and 2011–2015 using WHO 1999 and WHO 2010 criteria, respectively.Statistical Analysis:The Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests were performed using Open Source Epidemiological software and Social science calculators.Results:The aetiology of male infertility was determined in 62% of the men; while the cause remained undetermined in 38%. Varicocele (25%), urogenital infections (10%), sexual dysfunctions (8%) and vas aplasia (8%) were identified as major aetiologies in our cohort. Men with sexual dysfunctions and vas aplasia were significantly higher during the years 2011–2015 as compared to 2005–2010. Men having normozoospermia (10%) and azoospermia (3%) were increased, whereas those having oligoasthenozoospermia (17%) were reduced in 2011–2015 as compared to 2005–2010. According to WHO 1999 criteria , 12-15% of men showed abnormal semen profiles. The semen parameters of these men became normal on using WHO 2010 reference values.Conclusions:Varicocele is the most common aetiology in infertile men. Idiopathic infertility was seen in a higher proportion among the infertile men.

Semen profile of male partners of women attending infertility clinic in Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Semen analysis is an important investigation in the evaluation of male factor infertility. Diminishing semen profile has been widely reported mostly attributed to the environmental factor and lifestyle changes. Methodology: A cross‑sectional study of 154 male partners of women attending infertility clinic at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. The study was done between January and October 2011. The data were collected using questionnaires, semen analyses, semen cultures, and body mass index (BMI). Results: The semen analyses done showed normozoospermia rate of 46.8% while 53.2% had abnormal semen profile. In this study, only 3.9% of the participants’ semen that had significant round cells also cultured bacteria. There was no significant statistical association between the round cells count and bacteria culture. Bacteria growth was mainly staphylococcus aureus. There was also a significant statistical association between abnormal semen profile and the risk factors in male infertility, medication use, coital frequency per week, and positive semen culture for bacterial growth. Conclusions: Proportion of participants with abnormal semen profile was high in this study. Significant round cell count did not translate to infected semen. There should be properly coordinated and heightened health education program on awareness and prevention of male infertility. Keywords: Male infertility; round cells; semen analysis; semen culture

Role of nuclear and mitochondrial genes in human male infertility: a review

Infertility affects very high percentage (15%) of couples and nearly 50% of these are accountable to the male partners. Reproduction encompassed two important biological processes are successful gametogenesis and fertility. Mainly, male infertility is influenced by the sperm quantity and quality. Male infertility is genetically heterogeneous. Numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities are associated with male infertility. Genetic studies on male infertility suggest that mutations in some Y chromosomal genes lead to male infertility. The major spermatogenic candidate genes are present in the Azoospermia factor loci (AZFa, AZFb and AZFc) of Y chromosome that largely control the successful spermatogenesis. Deletions or mutations in these genes results in abnormal spermatogenesis or abnormal semen profile affecting the fertility. The gr/gr deletion, a partial 1.6 Mb deletions in AZFc region of Y chromosome, has also been described specifically in infertile men with varying degrees of spermatogenic failure. A number of X-chromosomal and autosomal genes mutations have also been implicated for male infertility. It is suggested that impaired sperm chromatin integrity or sperm nuclear DNA damage has been associated with male infertility. It is not only genetic but genomic imprinting, an epigenetic phenomena, play a crucial role in male infertility. PLOG (DNA polymerase gamma) gene mapped to the long arm of chromosome 15 (15q25) includes CAG repeats and its mutations may affect the adenosine triphosphate production and fertility. Studies on mitochondrial genes revealed that mitochondrial genes are involved in normal growth, development and differentiation of sperms, and are also responsible for flagellar movement of sperms after ejaculation. Mutations in these mitochondrial genes result in abnormal semen parameters and impaired sperm flagellar movements which result in problem in fertilization and ultimately in infertility.

Evaluation of FSH, LH ,Testosterone , Prolactine, TSH and T4 hormones levels in different subgroups of infertile males.

Gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and testosterone are the prime regulators of germ cell development. Abnormal spermatogenesis is often associated with altered serum gonadotropins and testosterone. the potential relationship between other hormones, including thyroid hormones, and semen quality are still not completely understood. Thus in the present study an attempt has been made to report the degree of associations between thyroid hormones and semen quality. FSH, LH .T. PRL.T4 and TSH.hormones levels were estimated in 39 infertile men of whom 5 were azoospermia, 13 were oligozoospermic, 21 were with asthenzoospermia . Results showed statistically significant differences(P≤ 0.05) in the mean FSH, Testosteron (T.), PRL. And T4. Levels in all the infertile males studied when compared with the fertile controls (n=39). However, there is no significant difference in the mean levels of LH and TSH between the infertile and fertile men. Present study found that though men with abnormal semen profile had slightly higher in T4 concentrations in asthenozoospermia group as compared to those with normal semen profile. This study also show positive correlation between T4 and T. ( R2=0.408) and negative correlation between T4 and FSH was (R2=-0.515) ,T4 and LH was (R2=-0.345).

Three-dimensional sperm surface reconstruction: a novel approach to assessing sperm morphology

To create a rapid, inexpensive, efficient, and reproducible real-time three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of viable spermatozoa. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormal semen profiles are associated with a modest increase in the frequency of sperm chromosomal abnormalities, and that sperm with aberrations in the shape and contours of the head may be carriers of chromatinic defects. Although high-power magnification and enhanced video-generated magnification have been suggested, these techniques are inherently limited by the clarity of the image, the time required for the analysis, and the risk of variable head-positioning during imaging. In vitro experiment. University-affiliated infertility research laboratory. Anonymous sperm donors. Individual motile sperm were identified, analyzed at ×600 magnification, and a 10-second digital video was obtained. Image-tracking software captured serial photographs of sperm from recorded videos. Images were automatically extracted from each video frame using enhanced correlation coefficient maximization; the general shape of the sperm was extracted via space-carving. The reconstructed image was rotated to permit viewing from any direction, and the final image was rendered through interpolation. This technique yielded images that enable noninvasive, 3-D, real-time, in vitro assessment of sperm surface morphology. This proof-of-principle demonstrates that by keeping spermatozoa in a fluid environment, a 3-D sperm-surface reconstruction can be created. This technique can be automated, requires minimal computing power, and utilizes equipment already available in most embryology laboratories.

Thyroid spermatogenesis and male infertility

Since the identification of thyroid hormone receptors on the testes, thyroid has been suggested to have a significant impact on the male reproductive tract, spermatogenesis, and male fertility. Several research articles on the role of thyroid in spermatogenesis or male infertility have been published in the last three decades. We conducted an exhaustive literature search was conducted in order to create an up-to-date review of literature. This review aims to discuss the impact of thyroid on testicular development, spermatogenesis, hypo- or hyper- thyroidism and male infertility, and the management of thyroid related abnormal semen profile. The literature revealed that thyroid significantly impacts testicular development and that abnormal thyroid profile affects semen quality and male fertility by compromising testicular size, sperm motility and ejaculate volume. A clear link exists between thyroid hormones, testicular development and spermatogenesis. Thyroid disease negatively affects spermatogenesis and consequently may cause male infertility. In such cases, infertility is reversible, but more studies need to be conducted, especially in post-pubertal males to cement the current findings.

Is there a relationship between sperm chromosome abnormalities and sperm morphology?

This review explores the relationship between sperm chromosomal constitution and morphology. With the advent of techniques for obtaining information on the chromosome complements of spermatozoa, this relationship has been studied in fertile men and in men with a high frequency of chromosomal abnormalities. Using human sperm karyotype analysis, no relationship between sperm chromosome abnormalities and morphology was found in fertile men, translocation carriers or post-radiotherapy cancer patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis has not generally revealed a specific association between morphologically abnormal sperm and sperm chromosome abnormalities, but has indicated that teratozoospermia, like other forms of abnormal semen profiles (aesthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia) is associated with a modest increase in the frequency of sperm chromosome abnormalities. However, FISH studies on some infertile men and mouse strains have suggested that certain types of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, such as macrocephalic multitailed spermatozoa, are associated with a very significantly increased frequency of aneuploidy. Thus, there may be an association between sperm morphology and aneuploidy in infertile men with specific abnormalities.

Incidence of Chromosome 8, 10, X and Y Aneuploidies in Sperm Nucleus of Infertile Men Detected by FISH

We studied the frequency of aneuploidy in sperm nuclei of six infertile men with abnormal semen profile and normal karyotype, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with DNA probes for chromosomes 8, 10, X and Y. The control group consisted of four healthy fertile men with normal karyotype and semen profiles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences between infertile male donors and control donors for: (1) the incidence of sex chromosome aneuploidy, and (2) the number of disomies for chromosomes 8, and 10 cosegregating with chromosomes X and Y. FISH analysis showed no significant differences of sex ratios of the sperm nuclei in and between infertile and control groups. The most significant abnormalities in the infertile group were clusters of sperm nuclei bearing XY and XYY. In addition, the incidence of disomic sperm nuclei for chromosomes 8 and 10 consegregating with sex chromosomes was not significantly different beween the patient and control groups, nor within them. However, the total frequency of aneuploid sperm nuclei was significantly different beween the infertile group and the control group. We observed a significant excess of sperm nuclei bearing chromosome 10 along with disomy for chromosome Y (10YY). In conclusion, our results from FISH analysis demonstrate a significantly increased frequency of aneuploidy for the sex chromosomes in sperm nuclei from infertile men. Therefore it may be concluded that infertility is a risk factor for sex chromosome aneuploidy in sperm nuclei.

Pregnancy outcome in patients with regular menses.

Summary49% of patients with regular menstrual cycles attending the infertility clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital were found to be anovulatory. When other factors were sought, 18% of spouses were found to have an abnormal semen profile, an incidence shared equally between ovulatory and anovulatory patients. A significant number were found to have pelvic pathology in spite of previous investigations.The overall outcome in terms of pregnancy was 56% in the ovulatory group and 47% in the anovulatory group. Of the 19% of patients where no cause could be found, the pregnancy rate was 57%. Continued attendance at the clinic resulted in a better outcome in both ovulatory and anovulatory patients. Whereas the pregnancy rate in anovulatory defaulters was considerably lower it was nevertheless 31% suggesting that the ovulatory defects in those patients with regular menses was of a temporary nature.

Increase in progressive motility and improved morphology of human spermatozoa following their migration through Percoll gradients.

Human spermatozoa were separated on the basis of their motility in a discontinuous Percoll-gradient made up in tissue culture medium containing 10% (v/v) human serum (TCMS). Portions of ejaculates were placed on top of the gradients. After 3 h at 37 degrees C the bottom 1.5 ml was collected and the sperm washed free of the Percoll solution by centrifugation at 240 X g after dilution in TCMS. In this way the spermatozoa were separated from seminal fluid by means of the swimming rate of the sperm. When semen samples from normal men were used, total recovery of sperm after separated on a Percoll gradient was 21 +/- 2.3%. The progressive motility index increased by a factor of 15 +/- 1 when comparing separated samples with the same unseparated ejaculate, and the frequency of sperm with normal morphology increased from 60 to 85%. The improvements in these semen samples was attributable to the Percoll separation as the washing procedure itself was without effect. Using this method sperm of relatively unifirm motility and morphology can be collected. These may then be used for further biochemical and physiological studies. Improved sperm quality was also obtained when samples from patients with abnormal semen profiles were separated in this way, although the degree of improvement was much more variable than that obtained with semen from normal fertile men. This indicates that this method can be used in clinical practice in selected cases for the preparation of sperm for insemination or for in-vitro fertilization.

Prognostic value of the heterologous ovum penetration test for human in vitro fertilization.

In order to evaluate the prognostic value of the heterologous ovum penetration test (HOP-test) the results of this test were compared with the fertilization rate of human ova in a programme for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET). Sperm from 29 husbands (23 normozoospermic and 6 with an abnormal semen profile) were exposed on one occasion to approximately 30 hamster ova in the HOP-test and on 1 to 3 occasions to 1 to 4 preovulatory oocytes obtained from the respective wives. The mean penetration rate (+/- SEM) of the hamster ova was 43 +/- 4% (range: 0-62%) for the normozoospermic men, and 23 +/- 6% (range: 0-47%) for the men with abnormal semen profiles. In 20 out of 23 couples in which the husbands were normozoospermic, sperm penetrated the hamster ova as well as they fertilized human ova; however, in one couple, a false-positive result was obtained (penetration of the hamster ova and no fertilization of the human oocytes) and in one couple a false-negative result occurred. One negative IVF result was correctly predicted by the HOP-test. In the 6 patients with disturbed sperm motility no correct positive or negative results were obtained, whilst 4 false-positive and 2 false-negative results occurred using the HOP-test. Although the number of patients with disturbed sperm motility was small, the data suggest that the HOP-test is of limited value in predicting fertility in an IVF program for couples with reduced fertility.