Non-progressive Motility Research Articles

The Impact of Bacteriospermia on Semen Parameters Among Infertile Egyptian Men: A Case-Control Study.

This study aimed to detect the impact of bacteriospermia on semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation. This prospective case-control study was conducted over a period of 9 months. Samples were collected from andrology outpatient clinic attendants of Cairo University Hospitals. We enrolled 68 semen samples divided into two groups: a study group (34 semen samples with bacteriospermia) and a control group (34 semen samples without bacteriospermia). The characteristics of the semen, including morphology, motility, count, liquefaction, viscosity, pH, volume, and appearance, were evaluated according to the standard protocols. Patients with and without bacteriospermia had a comparable liquefaction time (p = .343), semen appearance and color (p = 1.00), semen pH (p = 1.00), velocity (p = .163), and total sperm count (p = .451). Patients with bacteriospermia were associated with lower progressive motility (p = .001), nonprogressive motility (p = .032), total motility (p = .001), and normal forms (p = .001). The prevalence of abnormal semen analysis was 64.71% in the study group compared with 35.29% in the control group. Staphylococcus aureus (67.6%) and Escherichia coli (14.7%) were the most commonly detected organisms. Samples from which Methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated showed significant abnormalities in both progressive motility and normal morphology of sperm. Bacteriospermia has deteriorative effects on sperm quality parameters, such as semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm normal morphology.

Lactobacillus plantarum secretions may exert a cryoprotective effect on human sperm motility: a prospective in vitro study.

Semen cryopreservation is a widely used procedure for fertility preservation, despite some level of cryodamage that may occur in spermatozoa after thawing. However, there is some evidence that lactobacilli, one of the bacteria found in semen, might benefit spermatozoa quality. This study aims to determine whether the addition of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) secretions to a sperm freezing medium has an impact on sperm motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation. This is a prospective auto-controlled study. It was conducted on 30 raw semen samples from 30 infertile men attending a fertility center for semen analysis. Before freezing, all the samples were analyzed for motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation percentages. Each sample was then divided equally into three aliquots. Cryopreservation was performed on each aliquot using one of the following three media: without L. plantarum secretions (control group), with 107 CFU/ml, or with 108 CFU/ml L. plantarum secretions. Sperm motility, morphology, and DNA integrity were evaluated after the cryopreservation media were added and after semen thawing. The results of this study indicated that after thawing, no statistically significant decrease in progressive motility and non-progressive percentages were detected in the sperm freezing medium supplemented with 108 CFU/ml L. plantarum secretions compared to the fresh raw semen. Moreover, multivariate linear regression model analyses showed that the progressive motility (p = 0.02), non-progressive motility (p = 0.016), and non-motile spermatozoa (p = 0.012) percentages were significantly decreased in the freezing medium (without L. plantarum secretions) compared to the fresh raw semen. To the great of our knowledge, this is the first study showing that L. plantarum secretions had a cryoprotective effect on sperm motility when added to the sperm freezing medium. Furthermore, L. plantarum secretions were found to protect sperm DNA integrity more effectively than the freezing medium without L.plantarum secretions in non-normozoospermia group. Cryopreservation procedures must therefore be optimized to minimize any iatrogenically-induced sperm DNA damage, given the correlation between sperm DNA damage and increased mutation loads in progeny. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the Combination of Recombinant FSH and Antioxidant Therapy on DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) in Infertile Men

Introduction. Medications such as antioxidants and recombinant FSH are prescribed to improve sperm DFI (DNA fragmentation index) and treat infertility. Due to the high cost and duration of medications, in this study, we decided to investigate the effectiveness of combining these two medications with lower doses and in less time, compared to previous studies prescribing them individually, to reduce sperm DFI in infertile men. Methods. This study, a retrospective observational before and after trial, included a group ( <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mn>94</mn> </math> ) of men aged 18-50 years with <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"> <mtext>DFI</mtext> <mo>&gt;</mo> <mn>20</mn> <mi>%</mi> </math> suffering from male factor infertility in an andrology clinic in Tehran, Iran, from 2019 to 2020. Patients received the combination of two medications, recombinant FSH every 5 days (75 IU subcutaneously) and an antioxidant every day (selenium, vitamin E, CoQ10, and folic acid) for 2 months. The patient’s sperm DFI and sperm parameters have been measured before and after the medication and were reported in patient’s files. In all patients, we compare the sperm DFI and sperm parameters before and after the treatment to evaluate the effect of the combination therapy. Results. The sperm DFI was significantly reduced ( <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"> <mi>p</mi> </math> value ≤0.001) in the patients treated by the combined medication. The sperm DFI improvement was 50.16% in the total population. However, there were no significant changes in other sperm parameters such as sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility, immotile sperms, and abnormal morphology. Total sperm count and nonprogressive motility had significant changes statistically. Conclusion. Sperm DFI is an important indicator for evaluating the quality of semen. In this study, we demonstrate that the combination of recombinant FSH and antioxidants in a shorter time and with lower doses is effective in reducing DFI significantly. But in terms of other sperm parameters, it does not make a significant difference.

Can Advanced paternal age affect global DNA methylation of human spermatozoa and ICSI outcome?

This study was performed to (I) evaluate the potential effect of advanced paternal age on global DNA methylation on spermatozoa, and (II) to investigate the association between the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes, semen parameters, and advanced paternal age. This study comprised 230 semen samples collected from males with a mean age of 38.2 ± 8.5 years. The medical records were used to gather the medical information related to the female partner. The participants were divided into three groups depending on males' age: (age < 30; n = 50 "21.8%", age = 30-40; n = 90 "39.1%", and age > 40; n = 90 "39.1%"). The DNA was extracted from purified spermatozoa; then the sperm global DNA methylation, sperm DNA fragmentation, and chromatin decondensation were evaluated by an ELISA, TUNEL, and Chromomycin A3 staining, respectively. A significant variation has been found in the age of males included in this study (P < 0.001). A significant reduction has been observed in sperm count, total motility, and non-progressive motility in the older group compared to the younger group (P < 0.001). Additionally, a significant elevation in chromatin decondensation level, DNA fragmentation level, and global DNA methylation of spermatozoa in the older age group (P < 0.001) has been found. A significant positive correlation has been detected between the percentage of non-motile sperm, sperm chromatin decondensation, DNA fragmentation, global DNA methylation status, and paternal age (P < 0.001). This study pointed out that advanced paternal age increases the DNA fragmentation, chromatin decondensation, and global DNA methylation level in human spermatozoa which negatively affects the ICSI outcomes in couples undergoing ICSI cycles.

Impact of Coriander Seeds Extract Against Thyroidectomy Induced Testicular Damage and DNA Replication in Male Rats

An important target organ for thyroid hormone activity is the testis and hypo or hyperthyroidism causes noticeable alterations in testicular function. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of Coriander Seeds Extract (CSE) against thyroidectomy induced toxicity, oxidative stress, injury, and proliferation in male testes rats. 40 male rats were equally divided into 4 groups [Gp1, control; Gp2, CSE; Gp3, thyroidectomies rats (Thy); Gp4, treated thyroidectomies rats with coriander (Thy + CSE)]. Current results revealed after 3 weeks of thyroidectomy; a significant (p<0.05) elevation in TSH, total T4, serum AST, and serum ALP, non-progressive motility and immotile sperms, testicular MDA, testicular injury, and a significant (p<0.05) reduction in total T3, sexual hormones (testosterone, FSH, LH, and prolactin), sperms parameters (count, morphological index, vitality, total and progressive motility), testicular GSH, testicular SOD, and testicular GST and PCNA expressions when compared with control. Thy + CSE modulates most of changes parameters and recovery the testicular injury. We can conclude that; coriander seed extract could enhance the testis against thyroidectomy produced toxicity and oxidative stress in testes through its positive effects in scavenging free radicals.

The Effects Of Purple Grape Juice (Vitis Vinifera) On Spermatozoa Motility Of Male Wistar Rats (Rattus Norvegicus) Exposed To Electric Cigarette Smoke

Background: Infertility in men can be caused by decreased motility of spermatozoa. Electric cigarette smoke containing nicotine can produce free radicals that cause a decrease in sperm motility. Purple grape juice which contains flavonoids can act as antioxidants that can increase the motility of spermatozoa. Objective: To prove the effect of administering purple grape juice on sperm motility of male Wistar rats exposed to electric cigarette smoke.Methods: This research is an experimental study with a post-test-only control group design. Sample consisted of 28 male Wistar rats divided randomly into 4 groups, namely negative control, positive control (given electric cigarette smoke), treatment one (given electric cigarette smoke + purple grape juice 3 mL/day), and treatment two (given electric cigarette smoke + purple grape juice 5 mL/day). The adaptation was carried out for 1 week, followed by treatment for 4 weeks, then the sperm of Wistar rats were collected and the sperm motility of Wistar rats was examined. Statistical test used Saphiro Wilk and Kruskal Wallis test.Results: Progressive motility rate of K(-), K(+), P1, P2 groups consecutively: 58.33 ± 7,52; 26,66 ± 8,16; 31,66 ± 7,52; 43,33 ± 12,11. Non progressive motility rate of K(-), K(+), P1, P2 groups consecutively: 26,66 ± 10,32; 55 ± 8,36; 43,33 ± 12,11; 35 ± 12,24. Immotility rate of K(-), K(+), P1, P2 consecutively: 18,33 ± 9,83; 28,33 ± 14,71; 20 ± 6,32; 16,66 ± 5,16. Kruskal Wallis test found a significant difference in progressive motility (p=0.002) and non-progressive motility (p=0.005).Conclusion: Purple grape juice affects sperm motility of male wistar rats exposed to electric cigarette smoke.

Effects of photobiomodulation therapy on human sperm function

IntroductionSperm motility is a crucial factor in male infertility and it depends on mitochondrial tail movements. Photobiomodulation light therapy allows the cells to produce their energy through activation of the mitochondria. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of photobiomodulation on sperm motility in astenozoospermic individuals. Materials and methodsFollowing semen analyses of 20 astenozoospermic individuals, collected semen samples were centrifuged. Pellet was obtained and homogenized through mixing with culture media in 1:1 ratio. Each semen samples were divided into 3 groups. In the first group, control samples were not exposed to laser irradiation. The Group 2 and Group 3 were exposed to 650nm wavelength of photobiomodulation from 10cm distance in dark environment via a 36cm2 aperture sizer with 200mW output power for 30 and 60min duration, respectively. Sperm motilities were evaluated and chromatin condensation of sperms was determined. ResultsSperm motilities were significantly increased in photobiomodulation groups compared with the controls. Sperm motilities tended to be different between the 30 and 60min red light exposure groups; however, it was not statistically significant. When the motility grades were compared, no significant difference was observed in non-progressive motility sperms. While immotile sperms decreased significantly in the photobiomodulation groups compared to the control group, progressive sperms increased. ConclusionsThe results of the present study demonstrated that the photobiomodulation is an efficient method to increase the sperm motility of astenozoospermic individuals independent of the duration of exposure.

Linggui Yangyuan paste for patients with male infertility: a study protocol for a multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial

Male infertility affects millions of men worldwide and is increasing in prevalence, with asthenozoospermia (AS) and oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) being the most frequent causes, and current treatments are limited. A previous research reported that Linggui Yangyuan paste (LGYY) enhanced sperm viability and motility, but there is a lack of multicenter, rigorous, randomized and controlled studies on its efficacy. Wuzi Yanzong oral solution (WZYZ), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is one of the most important and first-line drugs for AS and OA in China. We designed a direct comparison of LGYY’s effectiveness and safety against WZYZ in treating male infertility, specifically AS and OA. We propose a multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized controlled trial, which is planned to recruit 162 participants with AS or OA from five centers and will randomize them into two groups, whereby the treatment group will receive intervention with LGYY and WZYZ mimetics, while the control group will receive intervention with WZYZ and LGYY mimetics. The medications will be administered twice daily for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week follow-up. The primary outcome will be total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC), and the secondary outcomes will be semen parameters, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility (PR), PR + nonprogressive motility (NP), Chinese Medicine Symptoms Score (CMSS), spouse pregnancy rate and time to pregnancy. The safety outcomes will be based on the results of routine blood and urine tests, liver and kidney function tests and electrocardiography. Overall, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the potential efficacy and safety of LGYY compared to WZYZ for male infertility (AS or OA), which could guide clinicians to an alternative drug approach to treat patients with AS or OA. This clinical trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.org under the identifier NCT05792813.

The effect of aging on semen parameters in normozoospermic men: A cross-sectional study.

Semen parameters change with age and are reported differently worldwide. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the semen quality pattern among aging men and the age thresholds for semen parameters. The records of men who had normal semen parameters from January 2015-June 2020 were retrospectively evaluated for andrological outpatient at Samsun Training and Research hospital and Gazi hospital in Samsun, Turkey. Adult men meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into 3 groups of I) 18-29 yr (n = 629), II) 30-39 yr (n = 775), and III) 40-49 yr (n = 190). Correlations between age and sperm parameters were then analyzed. A total of 1594 men were enrolled in the study. Significant differences were observed in total sperm numbers, total motility rates, progressive motility rates, nonprogressive motility rates, normal morphology rates, mean semen volume, and sperm concentrations. The parameters of total sperm number, progressive motility rate, and normal morphology rate were significantly higher in group I than in the other 2 groups (p 0.001, p 0.001, and p 0.001, respectively) and in group II compared to group III (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, and p 0.001), respectively. Mean semen volume and total motility rate were significantly higher in group I than in the other groups (p = 0.001 and p 0.001, respectively). However, no difference was observed between group II and group III (p = 0.61 and p = 0.04, respectively). Age has a significant impact on semen parameters capable of affecting male fertility, particularly total sperm numbers, the progressive motility rate, and the normal morphology rate.

Effect of manual acupuncture at "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on spermatogenic cells of mice with oligoasthenospermia induced by microwave radiation

To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) on sperm motility, testicular B cell lymphoma/leukelia-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), and Caspase-3 in mice with oligoasthenospermia induced by microwave radiation, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improving oligoasthenospermia. Male BALB/C mice were randomly divided into control, model and acupuncture groups(n=6 in each group). The oligoasthenospermia model was established by continuous microwave irradiation with frequency of 2 450 MHz and power density of 40 mW/cm2, 1 h daily for 18 days. At the same time, manual acupuncture was applied to the acupuncture group on bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) for 30 s, once daily for 18 days. Sperm motility including the percentages of progressive motility (PR), non-progressive motility (NP), and PR + NP sperms was detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis, H.E. staining was used to observe the testicular morphology and Johnson score was calculated, the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 in testis were detected by immunofluorescence. Compared with the control group, the percentages of PR sperms, NP sperms, PR+NP sperms, Johnson score, and expression level of Bcl-2 were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 were increased (P<0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the percentages of PR sperms, PR+NP sperms, Johnson score, and expression level of Bcl-2 were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 were decreased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group. Outcomes of H.E. staining showed that the seminiferous tubules became thinner, spermatogenic cells and sperm decreased or even disappeared, and the supporting cells were partially missing in the model group, which was relatively milder in the acupuncture group. Manual acupuncture at SP6 can improve sperm motility in oligoasthenospermia mice induced by microwave radiation, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3, increasing expression of Bcl-2 in the testis.

Ameliorative role of chitosan nanoparticles against silver nanoparticle-induced reproductive toxicity in male albino rats.

This study was designed to evaluate the protective potentials of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) against silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wister albino rats. AgNPs, ChNPs, and AgNPs particles coated with ChNPs were characterized by using transmission electron microscope. Control rats were injected interperitoneally with 0.5% aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose. Second group was given ChNPs at a dose 300mg/kg bwt. Third group was given AgNPs at a dose 50mg/kg bwt. Fourth group was given AgNPs with chitosan nanoparticles simultaneously. Fifth group was given silver nanoparticles coated with chitosan nanoparticles at a dose 300mg/kg bwt. TEM showed the formation of AgNPs with average size of 42.7nm, ChNPs with average size of 33.3nm, and AgNPs coated with ChNPs with average size of 48.1nm. AgNPs significantly reduced serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin, sperm count, morphology index, vitality, total motility and progressive motility, the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase, and the concentration of reduced glutathione in testicular tissues. However, it significantly increased malondialdehyde concentration in testicular tissues, sperm abnormalities, testicular tissue damages, non-progressive motility, and immotile sperms. On the contrast, ChNPs ameliorated AgNP-induced alteration in serum levels of sex hormones, spermogram, and testicular tissue's structure and functions. These results indicated that ChNPs had protective potential against AgNP-induced reproductive toxicity and ChNPs coating AgNPs had more potent protective effect than ChNPs administrated together with AgNPs.

Staining-free, Automated Sperm Analysis for In Vitro Fertilization Lab Use.

Computer-aided sperm analysis is typically used in andrology labs, not in in vitro fertilization labs, which requires staining for sperm morphology measurement. In in vitro fertilization labs, sperm analysis still relies on manual observation and suffers from subjectivity and inconsistency. We developed a system for automated measurement of sperm concentration, motility, and morphology without the need for sperm staining. The reproducibility and reliability of the system were evaluated. Thirty-five fresh semen and 25 washed samples were obtained from male partners attending for fertility investigations. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were automatically measured simultaneously, leveraging robust sperm tracking for concentration and motility measurement and low contrast image segmentation for morphology measurement of live sperm. Reproducibility of sperm measurements was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients. Reliability of sperm measurement was evaluated by Passing and Bablok regression analysis and Bland-Altman analysis. Automated measurement of concentration, motility, and morphology had intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.97. The regression and Bland-Altman analysis indicated that automated measurement and off-line manual benchmarking with zoomed-in images were interchangeable. Further analysis on semen and washed samples and the measurement on progressive and nonprogressive motility also showed high reproducibility and reliability. Automated sperm analysis revealed high reproducibility and reliability. The system is designed for routine use in in vitro fertilization labs to perform quantitative sperm analysis on live samples.

Hepatitis B Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections Disrupt Sperm Parameters in Males through Decreasing Mitochondrial Membrane Potential: A Case-control Study

Background: Infertility is a global problem that affects more than 15% of couples. The occurrence of this problem is about 50% in males. Viral infections cause infertility in men by different mechanisms. Objectives: This study is designed to evaluate the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on male fertility and determine the mechanisms involved. Methods: A total of 73 males were included in the present study. They were assigned to the groups healthy fertile (n = 22 volunteers) as the healthy controls, non-infected infertile (n = 27), HBV-infected infertile (n = 14), and CMV-infected infertile (n = 10). The sperm parameters, including count, morphology, progressive motility (PR), and progressive + non-progressive motility (PR + NP), were analyzed in their semen. The semen samples of all studied participants were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to determine the presence of HBV or CMV infection. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were also assessed. Results: Our findings showed that all sperm parameters, including count, morphology, PR, and PR + NP, decreased in males with HBV and CMV infections compared to the healthy control group (P &lt; 0.01 in all cases). Mitochondrial membrane potential declined in HBV- and CMV-infected males compared to the healthy control group (P &lt; 0.001). Conversely, the TNF-α level of semen in HBV- and CMV-infected men was significantly higher than in the healthy control group (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrated that HBV and CMV infections lead to male infertility through increasing TNF-α and decreasing sperm MMP.

Assessment of semen quality of taxi drivers exposed to whole body vibration

Whole body vibration (WBV) is a recognized occupational hazard for many workers such as drivers and operators of heavy and light machinery and exposure to it is accompanied by physical and mental repercussions. Only the limited studies have been done on the effects of vibration exposure on reproductive indices, however vibration exposure has been indicated as being a hazardous agents with the potential of being able to directly affect the reproductive system. Considering the importance of infertility, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating semen quality among taxi drivers in Tehran and determine the effect of exposure to WBV on sperm parameters. The study population consisted of 70 taxi drivers and 70 office employee who attended infertility clinics for diagnostic purposes in the past year. The participants had to meet the entry criteria of the study while also being willing to recruit. Data was collected in the form of demographic questionnaires and general health questionnaires as well as sperm analysis conducted in an infertility clinic according to standard laboratory guidelines. The 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure to of WBV in automobile was measured as per ISO 2631-1. The TWA exposure to WBV among the taxi drivers and office employees were 0.697 ± 0.13 m/s2 and 0.068 ± 0.09 m/s2 respectively (P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference in total sperm count, progressive motility, non-progressive motility and total motility was observed between the taxi drivers and the office employees (P < 0.05). According to the univariate analysis of variance, exposure to WBV had negative effect on sperm concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology (P > 0.05); moreover exposure to WBV resulted in the larger effect size (B) on sperm parameters than the demographic variables (P > 0.05). Being taxi drivers increase the chance of the decreased semen quality (P > 0.05). It is difficult to draw definitive conclusions regarding the effects of WBV while intervening factors exist, such as psychological stressors, quality of sleep, background issues as well as environmental factors such as chemical pollutants (heavy metals) or ergonomic factors (body posture and working while sitting down).

Effect of Adding α-tocopherol on Fertility Parameters in Bovine Semen Cryopreservation

Background: Cryopreservation of bovine semen affects survival of spermatozoa. It is necessary to improve semen quality to increase fertility. The aim was to determine the effect of α-tocopherol added to the bovine semen diluent at different time of freezing, upon sperm quality post thawing. Methods: Semen was collected from Charolais breed bulls. The semen was divided into two portions and one portion was added with α-tocopherol and the other was used as control. These portions were further divided into three parts and frozen for 8, 11 and 15 minutes, respectively. After 60 days of cryopreservation, the progressive motility, non-progressive motility, absence of motility, vitality and DNA fragmentation were evaluated. Result: The lower percentages of DNA fragmentation were treated with antioxidants (15.52, 14.83 and 14.71%). The highest vitality and progressive motility were found in the sample with α-tocopherol and frozen for 11 min with 72.91 and 58.61%, respectively. The addition of α-tocopherol to the semen diluent decreased damages to spermatozoa and enhanced the semen quality.

Long-term impact of COVID-19 infection on semen quality of the COVID-19 survivors

Background. Several studies have shown the short-term effects of COVID-19 on semen quality, but not as many for the long-term effects. This follow-up study aims to explore the long-term effects of COVID-19 on male fertility by comparing semen parameters of patients recovering from COVID-19 infection. Methods. Fourteen subjects aged &gt;18 years old who had a history of resolved COVID-19 infection with previous evidence of laboratory-confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal PCR swab result, and had a previous history of infertility after COVID-19 infection based on the evidence of the semen analysis within 6 months or longer were recruited in this study. Analysis of the semen parameter of all fourteen subjects was performed, including semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, total, progressive, non-progressive, and immotile motility percentage, morphology percentage, leukocyte, erythrocyte, and immature sperm cells parameters. The semen analysis obtained from this current semen analysis was compared with individual baseline semen analysis results, which were obtained in the resolution phase of COVID-19 infection, 6 months or longer from the current semen analysis. Results. Mean pH decreased significantly in follow-up semen analysis, with baseline vs. follow-up 7.9 vs 7.4 (p=0.002; 95%CI=0.3-0.67).

Role of Antioxidant Supplements in Idiopathic Male Infertility in Erbil City

Background: Fertil Aid for Men is a non-prescription dietary supplement, it’s a mixture of multiple antioxidants,vitamins, a blend of herbal ingredients, and amino acid, as L-Carnitine. This research aims to appraise theeffectiveness of a mixture of vitamins and antioxidants on seminal fluid parameters in males with idiopathicinfertility.Method: Thirty-three men with idiopathic infertility were involved inthis prospective clinical study. The baselinesemen specimens were taken from the subjects following three to seven days’ abstinence. Semen parametersincluding (volume, pH, concentration, and motility) were measured. Abnormal sperm sample subjects were givena FertilAid capsule three times daily for 90 days then final semen analysis was estimated.The outcomes of this study demonstrated consumption of fertilAid has significantly improved sperm count/ml (p&lt; 0.05), also significant amelioration in the sperm motility including progressive and non-progressive motility (p&lt; 0.05). The rate of total sperm motility was significantly improved (p &lt; 0.05).The concentration of immotile spermhas considerablyreduced (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: The administration of a combination of L-Carnitine, Zinc, Maca Root, Asian Ginseng, Vitamin C, E,Beta Carotene, and Selenium PLUS CoQ10 in idiopathic male infertility has notably improved sperm parameters.

Effect of Addition Stachys Lamiaceae Water Extract on Chilling Sheep Sperms Derived from the Vas Deference’s

The main objective of this study was to find out the effect of adding Stacy’s Lamiaceae plant water extract on the traits of sperms derived from the transport channels of sheep kept cold. This study was conducted using 50 ducts of adult domestic rams slaughtered at the local Al-Shula slaughterhouse. The study was carried at the College of Agriculture, University of Al-Qadisiyah, during the period from December 2020 to March 2021. This study consists of one experiment showing the effect of adding water extract of Stachys Lamiaceae on the characteristics of chilling sperms taken from the sheep Vas Deferenses. 100 VasDeferenses were divided randomly into five groups 20 Vas deferens for each group. Spermatozoa were extracted from the Vas deferens and diluted with tris extender and egg yolk, and according to the treated groups, the control group (T1) was left untreated. The second group (T2) was added 100 international units/ml of penicillin with 100 mg/ml of streptomycin. The groups (T3;1%, T4; 2% and T5; 3%, respectively) were added to the water extract of Stachys Lamiaceae and stored in the refrigerator at 5C° for one hour across one day, two days and three days. The sperms were examined (mass activity, individual motility, progressive motility, non-progressive motility, immotile sperm, dead sperm, abnormal sperm, HOST test and water test. The results indicated a significant improvement ((P<0.05) in the parameters of sperms where sperms of T5 treatment achieved the best value compared with the control group after cold storage for one, two and three days, A significant difference was noticed (P<0.05) across the treated groups with antibiotics compared with other groups. From the current study, we conclude that the addition of the water extract of the Stachys Lamiaceae led to an improvement in the environment of sperm chilling storage, which led to an improvement in the parameters of sperm fluid.

P-063 Multivariate analysis identifies oxidative stress levels and acrosome status of motile spermatozoa as independent predictors of motile sperm hyaluronan binding ability

Abstract Study question Is it possible to predict motile sperm hyaluronan binding ability (HBA) from motile sperm functional parameters? Summary answer Using multivariate analysis, oxidative stress levels and acrosome status of motile spermatozoa, derived from semen swim-up, were identified as predictors of sperm HBA. What is known already Semen analysis is a gold standard practice for fertility evaluation. However, motility and morphology of spermatozoa are not always indicative of the molecular makeup of sperm cells. In this context, several sperm functional tests were developed to enhance our understanding of spermatozoa biology. Interestingly, several studies have shown that the plasma membrane of mature sperm cells contain hyaluronan binding sites. HBA was associated with intact acrosome, decreased DNA damage, and high viability. Nevertheless, it has not been demonstrated yet if hyaluronan binding ability can be predicted solely by swim-up derived- motile spermatozoa functional parameters. Study design, size, duration A prospective study was performed at Al-Hadi Medical Center, beirut, Lebanon, between January and July 2020. Freshly ejaculated semen samples obtained from infertile men with concentration of ≥ 20 x 106/ml and with total sperm motility of ≥ 30% were included. The primary outcome was to assess if the motile sperm functional parameters may influence HBA. A sample size of 54 was calculated using power = 85% and alpha = 5% for multiple linear regression. Participants/materials, setting, methods 54 semen samples were assessed according to WHO guidelines (2010). Thereafter, samples were processed using the semen swim-up technique. Supernatants containing motile spermatozoa were collected for further analysis. In motile spermatozoa-enriched fractions, chromatin integrity was assessed using toluidine blue (TB) staining. Oxidative stress levels were detected using a nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test. Acrosome status was determined using triple staining technique. HBA was evaluated via a commercially available hyaluronan binding assay (HBA® Assay). Main results and the role of chance In the motile spermatozoa-enriched fractions, mean ± standard deviations for concentration, progressive motility, non-progressive motility and normal morphology were 26.17±11.48, 76±18.97, 20.94±12.61 and 0.75 ± 1.4, respectively. In addition, mean ± standard deviations for TB + cells, NBT + cells, living spermatozoa with intact acrosome, and HBA were 16.42 ± 13.4, 57.4 ± 9.4, 93.9 ±3.2, and 48.98±11.95, respectively. The values of the HBA had a non-normal distribution; therefore, these values were first linearized by taking the logarithm of the outcome. Afterwards, multiple linear regression (MLR) was used to predict the outcome. The overall regression of the final model was statistically significant (R2 = 0.346), F(4.43) =5.962, p = 0.001. The results of the final MLR model indicated that a unit increase in non-progressive motility (%) (p = 0.002) and NBT + cells (%) (p = 0.009) increased the HBA by 1.505 units and 1.409 units, respectively. However, a unit increase in dead spermatozoa with unreacted acrosome (%) (p = 0.032) and living spermatozoa with reacted acrosome (%) (p = 0.026) decreased the HBA by 1.317 units and 1.342 units, respectively. Limitations, reasons for caution This is an interim study and these results should be taken as preliminary. In order to confirm these findings, further studies including larger sample size and motile spermatozoa derived from semen samples with abnormal parameters (such as severe asthenozoospermia, leukocytospermia, severe oligozoospermia) are required. Wider implications of the findings Several studies indicated that using damaged spermatozoa may affect the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. In addition, using damaged spermatozoa during fertilization may predispose the offspring to various diseases later in life. These results may be considered as an impetus to reconsider sperm selection during ICSI. Trial registration number Not applicable

P-052 Targeted metabolomics (amino acids) profiling of seminal plasma distinguished teratozoospermia from normozoospermic samples

Abstract Study question Is there a difference in metabolic composition between teratozoospermia and normozoospermic seminal samples? Summary answer Teratozoospermia and normozoospermia in humans are distinguished by seminal fluid metabolome markers especially amino acid content. What is known already Metabolomic profiling is the study of metabolites as downstream gene expression products in physiological and pathological circumstances. Identifying the metabolome of human seminal plasma (HSP) is a new research area to screen putative (in)fertility biomarkers. Knowing the semen metabolic signature and whether there are differences in metabolic composition between the teratozoospermia sample and semen with normal morphology could enhance our understanding of aspects associated with poor sperm quality and consequent male infertility. Study design, size, duration The Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad Tehran Medical Sciences University-Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Branches approved the case-control study. Teratozoospermia was defined based on 5th WHO (2010) as normal morphology&amp;lt;4%, count&amp;gt;15*106/ml, progressive and non-progressive motility≥40%. In contrast, in normozoospermic samples from fertile men (who had at least one child), normal morphology was greater than 4%. HSP specimens were obtained from 15 infertile patients with teratozoospermia, and 12 confirmed fertile men as the control group. Participants/materials, setting, methods Fresh semen samples were obtained through masturbation following 3–4 days of abstention. A portion of each sample was used for routine semen analysis. Remained seminal plasma was isolated by centrifugation and stored; following post-thaw, HSPs were subjected to LC-MS-MSanalysis. MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software(www.metaboanalyst.ca) was utilized to identify fundamental metabolism alterations related to the morphology status of spermatozoa. In addition, different uni/multivariate analysis was performed to ascertain the group of metabolites responsible for the overall discrimination ability. Main results and the role of chance Seventeen significantly differentially metabolites (14 decreased and three increased) were observed in teratozoospermia samples vs. fertile control. Down-regulated metabolites include Cysteine, Gamma-aminobutyric acid, Glycine, Histidine, Hydroxylysine, Hydroxyproline, Methionine, Ornithine, Proline, Tryptophan, Aspartic acid, Argininosuccinic acid, Alpha-aminoadipic acid, and Beta-aminoisobutyric acid; whereas up. In contrast, up-regulatedlutamine, Asparagine, and Glycylproline. The PLS-DA score plot demonstrated the clear separation obtained according to the sperm morphological status. The two distinct groups were well-clustered, with distinct metabolic profiles for each group. The random forest (RF) algorithm was utilized to select relevant variables for teratozoospermia status classification by estimating the importance of each metabolite to teratozoospermia. The RF analysis defined a set of 15 metabolites that constitute the best predictors of teratozoospermia. In particular, increased Glutamine, Asparagine, and decreased Cysteine, Tryptophan, Glycine, and Valine were strong predictors of teratozoospermia. Interestingly, pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the most affected metabolic pathways in teratozoospermia men were the Aminoacyle-tRANA, arginine, valine-leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis. Among 34 metabolites, Asparagine, Glutamine, and Glycylproline negatively correlated with sperm morphology status; whereas 21 metabolites were positively correlated with morphology, including Alanine, Argininesuccinic, Aspartic, Cystine, Gamma-aminobutyric acid, Glutamic, Glycine, Histidine, Homocitrulline, Hydroxylysine, Hydroxyproline, Isoleucine, Leucine, Methionine, Ornithine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Threonine, Tryptophan, Tyrosine, and Valine. Limitations, reasons for caution Since the strict criteria were considered for teratozoospermia patients, these results are preliminary and need to be confirmed with more sample size. Wider implications of the findings The possible cause of metabolite difference in seminal plasma of teratozoospermia patients comes from the disability of spermatozoa for selectively absorption or secretion of specific amino acids into/out of the cell, which is critical for sperm function and maturation and reflects the potential of fertility. Trial registration number Not Applicable