Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia Research Articles

Self-reported sleep quality and oligo/astheno/teratozoospermia among men attending an infertility clinic: a longitudinal study.

We aimed to examine the influence of sleep disturbances on the risk of oligo/astheno/teratozoospermia (OAT) in men attending an infertility clinic. We consecutively enrolled men attending an infertility clinic from July 2020 to June 2021. Semen parameters were obtained at initial presentation, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, and the STOP-BANG Questionnair were completed to assess sleep quality. Embryo outcomes were evaluated after infertility treatment. Of 466 menenrolled, 119 had OAT (OAT group) and 347 hadnormozoospermia (NS group). There were no differences between the two groups regarding Epworth Sleepiness Scale and STOP-BANG Questionnaire scores. The prevalence of poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥ 5) in the OAT group was significantly higher than that in the NS group (42% vs. 29%, p = 0.009). A higher rate of poor subjective sleep quality was observed in the OAT group compared with the NS group (p = 0.005) and Pearson's correlations revealed a negative relationship between subjective sleep quality and semen quality. Logistic regression found that subjective sleep quality was independently associated with an increased risk of OAT (adjusted odds ratio = 0.610, p = 0.007). Men with OAT attending an infertility clinic exhibited poor subjective sleep quality. Improving sleep disturbances may be a target intervention to reduce the risk of OAT. This possibility warrants further investigation.

Hadh deficiency induced oligoasthenoteratozoospermia through the TNF-α/Bcl-2 pathway in male mice.

The process of spermatogenesis is a complex and delicate process that is still not fully understood. In this study, we examined the role of fatty acid oxidase 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (HADH) in maintaining normal spermatogenesis in mice. In male mice, ablation of the Hadh gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology arrested spermatocyte meiosis, increased multinucleated giant germ cells and vacuoles in seminiferous tubules, and accompanied with acrosomal dysplasia. Hadh-/- male mice showed the typical features of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), including decreased sperm concentration and motility and increased sperm abnormalities. Next, we explored the molecular events in the testes of the mutant mice. We found fatty acids accumulated in the testis of Hadh-/- mice. And also, inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly increased, apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 was decreased, and Bax and cleaved-Caspase3 were increased in Hadh-/- male mice testis. After using etanercept, a specific inhibitor of TNF-α, testis injury caused by Hadh knockout was significantly alleviated, the sperm quality and motility were improved, and germ cell apoptosis was reduced. So our study demonstrated that Hadh deletion caused an increase in fatty acids. The accumulated fatty acids further induced testicular inflammation and germ cell apoptosis through the TNF-α/Bcl-2 signaling pathway, finally resulting in OAT in the Hadh-/- mice. Inhibiting TNF-α may be used as a new treatment approach for testicular inflammation and OAT.

Clinical, cytogenomic, and molecular characterization of isodicentric Y-chromosome and prediction of testicular sperm retrieval outcomes in azoospermic and severe oligozoospermic infertile men.

Sex chromosome abnormalities are associated with male infertility. The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular findings of 12 infertile men with isodicentric Y-chromosome [idic(Y)] abnormalities diagnosed over a period of 13years. Chromosomal analyses of peripheral blood samples were done using standard procedures. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed on metaphase spreads of the patients. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using several sequence-tagged site (STS) primer sets within the long arm of Y-chromosome was used to detect AZF deletions.The breakpoints and copy number variations (CNV) were identified by array comparative genomic hybridization analysis (aCGH) analysis.The short-stature homeobox (SHOX) gene deletions were verified using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis. Twelve infertile men were diagnosed cytogenetically with idic(Y). The karyotypes of two of the patients were non-mosaic, and the remaining karyotypes showed various degrees of mosaicism. SHOX gene deletion was found in two of the four patients with short stature, and the remaining two patients had shown a 45,X dominant cell line (33.3%). The most common breakpoints for idic(Yq) and idic(Yp) were found to be in Yq11.222 and Yp11.32, respectively. Semen analysis of ten patients (83.3%) demonstrated azoospermia, and the remaining two patients (16.7%) showed severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). In total, 33% (4/12) of idic(Y) patients with or without microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) had sperm retrieval. Twelve patients with idic(Y) and different breakpoints of Y-chromosome were characterized using multiple detection strategies. Sperm retrieval outcomes of patients either with idic(Yp) or idic(Yq) showed the possibility to find sperm by microTESE.

Comparison of ICSI outcomes using testicular versus ejaculated sperm in patients with severely compromised semen parameters

Patients with severely compromised spermatogenesis are treated by ICSI. Both of OAT and NOA are classified under this category. A lot of studies try to improve reproductive out come in such cases. immature testicular sperm is the only choice in azoospermic male while those with sever OAT using poor quality ejaculated sperm which might be exposed to higher risk of oxidative stress with subsequent SDF. Objective of this study is to reflect the influence of sperm origin in patient with sever deterioration in testicular function on ICSI outcome from fertilization up to live birth delivery rate. This was a Cohort retrospective study included 330 infertile couples who underwent ICSI treatment due to azoospermia and severe oligospermia from January, 2015 to February, 2020. In Al-Najaf Fertility Centre. First group were (127) Azoospermic couples (NOA) in whom testicular sperm retrieved by TESA and TESE were used for ICSI. Second group were(203) couples with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia ( OAT )in whom ejaculated sperm were used for ICSI procedure female partners in both groups are belong to same age group, normal responder with no apparent fertility problem. OAT group had statistically higher fertilization rate than NOA (77.11 ± 18.68versus70.45 ±20.74. Positive pregnancy test (57.78% versus 38.65%, respectively P value is 0.001). Implantation rate, 12.6% versus 21.9%, respectively. Clinical pregnancy rate in NOA group is (32.8%) which is significantly lower than in OAT group (52.8%). Live birth deliveries was significantly higher in OAT group, 90 /199 (45.22%), compared to 33/ 119 patients (27.73%) in NOA, (P<0.05). No significant difference in embryo cleavage rate and miscarriage rate between both groups, (P>0.05). In conclusion, sperm maturity is a critical factor in determining sperm reproductive potential in ICSI cycles as in the case of natural fertilization and pregnancy

Myo-inositol in the treatment of male factor infertility

About 187 million couples worldwide suffer from infertility, with the male factor being diagnosed in 2070% of cases. The main cause of idiopathic infertility has been recognized as the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species. On the one hand, the cellular antioxidant defense is a highly efficient multilevel system; therefore, the pharmacological targets may vary. On the other hand, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase) have high activity and specificity, which limits the pharmacological capabilities of direct antioxidants. Indirect methods, such as the normalization of mitochondrial function, are more promising. Mitochondria play a key role in providing energy for sperm motility (one of the main factors of male fertility). Myo-inositol (MI) derivatives involved in cell signaling regulate intracellular Ca2+ ion levels affecting mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and adenosine triphosphate production. Thus, mitochondrial antioxidants are of particular interest for therapeutic strategies. Currently, various routes and regimens of MI use in the treatment of males with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) are being considered in clinical practice. MI-based oral nutraceutical complexes for the treatment of male factor infertility contain both direct and indirect antioxidants. In vitro studies revealed damage to mitochondrial cristae in the sperm intermediate tract in patients with OAT. Experimental studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial structure is restored when sperm are incubated in an MI-containing medium. Clinical studies confirmed that sperm incubation in such an environment leads to increased sperm motility and viability in patients with OAT. Intravaginal administration of MI showed increased total sperm motility and an increased proportion of progressively motile sperm. It is the progressive motility that is considered the best marker for identifying quality and healthy sperm. This type of sperm is usually used for in vitro fertilization techniques. In addition, intravaginal MI administration improved the quality of cervical mucus and reduced its viscosity and crystallization. The effect of intravaginal MI on cervical mucus can be considered as an additional independent factor in increasing fertility.

Artificial oocyte activation with ionomycin compared with A23187 among patients at risk of failed or impaired fertilization

Do fertilization rates differ between intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles treated with artificial oocyte activation (AOA) using 10µmol/l ionomycin or commercial A23187 in women at risk of failed or impaired fertilization? This single-centre, 7-year retrospective cohort study included 157 couples with a history of total fertilization failure (TFF, 0%) or low fertilization (<30%) after ICSI, or with severe oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) in the male partner. Couples and underwent 171 ICSI-AOA cycles using either 10µmol/l ionomycin or commercial A23187. The embryological and clinical outcomes were compared. Fertilization rates in the ionomycin group were significantly higher than those in the A23187 group for all three subgroups (TFF, 46.9% versus 28.4%, P = 0.002; low fertilization, 67.7% versus 49.2%, P<0.001; severe OAT, 66.4% versus 31.6%, P<0.001). AOA with ionomycin significantly increased the day 3 cleavage rate (P = 0.009) when compared with A23187 in the low fertilization group, but not in the TFF or severe OAT group (both P>0.05). The rates of day 3 good-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy, implantation and live birth, and the cumulative live birth, did not differ between the two groups (all P>0.05). A total of 64 live births resulted in 72 healthy babies born. AOA with 10µmol/l ionomycin may be more effective than commercial A23187 in improving oocyte activation in patients at risk of failed or impaired fertilization, especially in cases of sperm-related defects.

Acupuncture Is Successful for An Infertile Couple with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) And Oligo-Astheno-Teratozoospermia (OAT): A Case Report

This article is a case report on a couple who had difficulty conceiving for 4 years. They wanted to undergo acupuncture to improve their health and increase their chances of conceiving. Four years prior, the wife was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and primary infertility. She wanted to regulate her menstrual cycle, to help release eggs regularly, to increase the rate of ovulation and the chance of pregnancy. The husband was diagnosed with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT). He wanted to improve the quality of his sperm i.e. sperm count, motility and morphology. Results: Acupuncture was done once a week as the sole treatment for each member of the couple over the course of 4 months, which resulted in the female partner becoming pregnant naturally and giving birth to a healthy baby boy. Conclusions: This case suggests that acupuncture is an effective treatment for female patients with PCOS and for male patients with OAT.

Use of Biological and Synthetic Polymers for Human Spermatozoa Cryopreservation

BACKGROUND: Spermatozoa cryopreservation is an integral part of the assisted reproductive technologies for treatment of infertility. It is also used to preserve the reproductive potential of men. However, using a standard freezing method with glycerol leads to a decrease in morphological and functional characteristics of spermatozoa in the case of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Therefore, it is relevant to develop effective methods of cryopreservation for such sperm. The use of various biopolymers can stabilize the membrane and bind excess water, which forms ice crystals in the medium that causes cell damage when temperature decreases. OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of using cryoprotectant mixtures based on biological and synthetic polymers [serum albumin, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and insulin] for the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa with OAT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human spermatozoa with OAT were cryopreserved using different cryoprotectant media containing 10 % glycerol or 10 % PVP, 20 % albumin and 1 μg/m L human insulin. The viability, motility and mitochondrial membrane potential of spermatozoa were assessed after rewarming. RESULTS: A cryoprotectant solution containing 10 % PVP, 20 % human serum albumin and 1 μg/m L insulin enabled a similar level (%) of viable gametes compared with the standard method using glycerol, while the number of motile cells was significantly lower (p &lt; 0.008). The membrane mitochondrial potential did not differ significantly from fresh sperm. CONCLUSION: The data obtained in this study show the effectiveness of a biopolymer mixture containing PVP, serum albumin and insulin for the cryopreservation of human OAT spermatozoa.

P-524 Bi-allelic CFAP61 variants cause male infertility in humans and mice with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

Abstract Study question Are mutations in cilia and flagella-associated protein 61 (CFAP61) associated with human male infertility? Summary answer Bi-allelic variants ([NM_015585.4: c.1654C&amp;gt;T (p.R552C) and c.2911G&amp;gt;A (p.D971N), c.144-2A&amp;gt;G and c.1666G&amp;gt;A (p.G556R)] in CFAP61 were identified as contributory genetics factor in severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). What is known already Cfap61 knockout mice were infertile due to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF). However, so far there is no direct evidence that mutations of CFAP61 cause OAT and male infertility. Study design, size, duration Variant screening was performed by whole-exome sequencing (WES) from 325 infertile patients with OAT and 392 fertile individuals. A knockout mouse model was generate to confirm the candidate disease-causing gene, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was used to evaluate the efficiency of clinical treatment. Participants/materials, setting, methods A total 325 OAT-affected patients and 392 men with normal fertility were recruited from China. WES was performed, followed by Sanger sequencing validation. In silico bioinformatics predictions and in vitro functional analyses were performed to evaluate the impacts of candidate disease-causing variants. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) staining, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence assays were performed to evaluate the sperm morphology. Two OAT-affected men with CFAP61 variants were treated by ICSI, and pregnancy outcomes were followed. Main results and the role of chance We identified bi-allelic CFAP61 variants [NM_015585.4: c.1654C&amp;gt;T (p.R552C) and c.2911G&amp;gt;A (p.D971N), c.144-2A&amp;gt;G and c.1666G&amp;gt;A (p.G556R)] in two (0.62%) of the 325 OAT-affected men. In silico bioinformatics analysis predicted that all four variants were deleterious, and in vitro functional analysis confirmed the deleterious effects of the mutants. Notably, H&amp;E staining and electron microscopy analyses of the spermatozoa revealed multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella, the absence of central pair microtubules, and mitochondrial sheath malformation in sperm flagella from man with CFAP61 variants. Further immunofluorescence assays revealed markedly reduced CFAP61 staining in the sperm flagella. In addition, Cfap61-deficient mice showed the OAT phenotype, suggesting that loss of function of CFAP61 was the cause of OAT. Two individuals accepted ICSI therapy using their own ejaculated sperm, and one of them succeeded in fathering a healthy baby. Limitations, reasons for caution Limitations include the lack of in vivo data from the one of patients, and the exact molecular mechanism should be further investigated. Wider implications of the findings Our findings indicate that CFAP61 is essential for spermatogenesis and that bi-allelic CFAP61 variants lead to OAT and male infertility in humans and mice. In addition, our results show that ICSI treatment can be recommended for CFAP61-related OAT. Trial registration number not applicable

Can sperm quality influence embryo development and its ploidy? Analysis of 811 blastocysts obtained from different sperm sources.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between sperm quality and ploidy status of the derived blastocysts. We performed a retrospective analysis on a restricted pool of patients enrolling only those who had no female factors. Male patients with genetic factors affecting spermatogenesis were also excluded. We chose a maternal age ≤38 years to decrease the female factor, therefore the male factor was the main component of sterility. We divided the patients in four groups based on semen quality and comparing fertilization, pregnancy and euploidy rates above all. In total, 201 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were enrolled in the study. Cycles were divided into four groups, according to semen source: normal semen, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), cryptospermia or non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). An extremely statistically lower fertilization rate was found in NOA patients. Unexpectedly, no differences were detected in blastocyst formation, euploidy, aneuploidy and mosaicism rates among the four groups. Interestingly, we also found a higher abortion rate comparing NOA to normal semen with an odds ratio of 4.67. In our study no statistically significant differences among the analyzed groups were found, showing little or no effect at all using spermatozoa from different semen sources or quality. This may be linked to the oocyte competence of fixing sperm DNA damage and it could be hypothesized that only sperm with a good rate of DNA integrity are able to fertilize the oocyte, explaining why poor quality semen is reflected in a low fertilization rate without effect on ploidy.

PD09-10 SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAPHY IN VARICOCELE PATIENTS WITH OLIGO-ASTHENO-TERATOZOOSPERMIA: PROSPECTIVE STUDY TO INVESTIGATE CORRELATION WITH SEMEN PARAMETERS AND HISTOLOGICAL FINDINGS

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 May 2022PD09-10 SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAPHY IN VARICOCELE PATIENTS WITH OLIGO-ASTHENO-TERATOZOOSPERMIA: PROSPECTIVE STUDY TO INVESTIGATE CORRELATION WITH SEMEN PARAMETERS AND HISTOLOGICAL FINDINGS Antonio Luigi Pastore, Andrea Fuschi, Yazan Al Salhi, Alessia Martoccia, Lorenzo Capone, Silvio Scalzo, Paolo Pietro Suraci, Onofrio Antonio Rera, Fabio Maria Valenzi, Alice Antonioni, and Antonio Carbone Antonio Luigi PastoreAntonio 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 , Alessia MartocciaAlessia Martoccia More articles by this author , Lorenzo CaponeLorenzo Capone More articles by this author , Silvio ScalzoSilvio Scalzo More articles by this author , Paolo Pietro SuraciPaolo Pietro Suraci More articles by this author , Onofrio Antonio ReraOnofrio Antonio Rera More articles by this author , Fabio Maria ValenziFabio Maria Valenzi More articles by this author , Alice AntonioniAlice Antonioni More articles by this author , and Antonio CarboneAntonio Carbone More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000002535.10AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Shear wave elastosonography (SWE) is a non-invasive ultrasound imaging modality used to assess the mechanical properties of tissues such as rigidity and elasticity. In this prospective study, we investigated the effect of laparoscopic varicocelectomy on the elasticity, degree of fibrosis and function of the testes through SWE and we evaluated the correlation with semen parameters and histology findings. METHODS: Male patients with monolateral left varicocele and progressive alteration of the semen quality suggestive for oligo astheno teratozoospermia (OAT) were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were evaluated before varicocelectomy, 3 and 6 months after surgery with semen analysis, ecocolordoppler US and SWE. In all patients, a left testicular biopsy was performed at the time of varicocelectomy, and it was repeated after 6 months in 55% of patients in order to investigate the histological findings and to correlate with SWE results. RESULTS: The study was conducted on 82 patients with varicocele and OAT. SWE showed a statistically significant difference between left and right testicles. Three months after surgery the mean left testicular volume increased, mean left SWE features decreased, and sperm count increased (p <.0001). The SWE parameters, testicular volume and semen analysis values showed a statistically significant positive correlation between the pre and postoperative results (p <.0001). The histological alterations were significantly changed 6 months postoperative with a complete morphology recovery in accordance with SWE results. CONCLUSIONS: SWE showed a statistically significant positive correlation with testicular volume, semen analysis and histological findings. This study represents the first investigation that correlates the varicocele, the testis volume, the quality of the seminal fluid ant the histological findings with the ultrasound and SWE values. Source of Funding: None © 2022 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 207Issue Supplement 5May 2022Page: e181 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2022 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 Alessia Martoccia More articles by this author Lorenzo Capone More articles by this author Silvio Scalzo More articles by this author Paolo Pietro Suraci More articles by this author Onofrio Antonio Rera More articles by this author Fabio Maria Valenzi More articles by this author Alice Antonioni More articles by this author Antonio Carbone More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF DownloadLoading ...

Biallelic CFAP61 variants cause male infertility in humans and mice with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

BackgroundThe genetic causes for most male infertility due to severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) remain unclear.ObjectiveTo identify the genetic cause of male infertility characterised by OAT.MethodsVariant screening was performed by whole-exome sequencing...

Positive Effect of a New Combination of Antioxidants and Natural Hormone Stimulants for the Treatment of Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) accounts for about 90% of male infertility; in many cases this disorder may be associated with oxidative stress, a condition that decreases the success of fertilization. Therefore, the empirical treatment of male infertility is often based on the use of antioxidants. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of three months’ administration of a new nutraceutical preparation on hormone profile, sperm parameters and fertilization capability in men undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). A total of 36 OAT patients were daily treated for 3 months with a dose of a formulation containing: Inositol, L-Carnitine, Vitamins C, D, E, Coenzyme Q10 and Selenium. Selected parameters were analysed before (T0) and after (T1) treatment, and IVF outcomes were evaluated. We observed an improvement of sperm concentration, motility, morphology and vitality; blood level of testosterone also showed an increase. A significant increase of fertilization rate was detected in 14 couples, whose male partner were treated with the nutraceutical preparation. The present results indicate that a formulation containing antioxidant and energy supply substances was effective in the treatment of sperm alterations and led to significant recovery of fertilizing capacity.

Covid-19 and severe OAT syndrome with dramatic recovery

We describe a young man of 37 years with a transient but marked Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome due to severe covid infection with the perfect recovery of semen parameters along with recovery of general health. Setting district general hospital: Intervention none. We review the role of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), the role of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE-2), Angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) and propose that it is potentially involved in a cause and effect mechanism of injury.

Effect of Reproductive and Lifestyle Factors on Anti-Mullerian Hormone Levels in Women of Indian Origin.

Infertility is a world-wide problem and one third females. Over the years, anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) has emerged as a major marker of ovarian reserve. There is also increasing interest in determining the factors which can impact AMH levels. To correlate the association of reproductive and lifestyle factors on AMH levels in women of Indian origin. Multicentric cross sectional study. The study was conducted using data extracted from the patient records of seven private fertility practices located in North India. Women who were attending these clinics for fertility treatment were requested to fill the questionnaire related to reproductive and lifestyle factors. Our outcome variable was level of AMH measured in the past 3 months, and was assessed as normal or low. All analyses were conducted using STATA 17. We found a direct association of low AMH with increasing age, short cycles, amenorrhea and women with family history of premature menopause. We found a direct correlation of high AMH and women with polycystic ovary syndrome and those whose partners had Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OATS) or azoospermia. There was no correlation with smoking, sleep, diet, body mass index, cell phone or laptop use in our study. Reproductive and lifestyle factors may affect ovarian reserve and but there was a dearth of human studies in this area. To the best of our knowledge this is the first human study on the effect of AMH on Laptop and Cell phone use. We urgently need more studies to confirm or refute our findings so that we can counsel our patients well.

Retrospective Analysis of the First Collection versus the Second Collection in Severe Oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia Cases in Self-Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Patients.

ABSTRACTBackground:It is well established that high-quality semen can lead to an improved fertilisation rate. Ejaculatory abstinence (EA) certainly can influence sperm quality such as volume, count, motility and morphology. However, very few studies have addressed the influence of EA on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome and especially in males with severe oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome.Aim:This study was undertaken with the purpose of evaluating the advantage of shorter abstinence period (1-h sequential ejaculation) in males with severe OAT syndrome on total usable embryo rate and thereby emphasising the potential application of consecutive ejaculate.Study Setting and Design:This retrospective cohort study consisted of all the infertile couples undergoing ICSI cycle with the indicated seminal characteristics who had consulted the tertiary care hospital between January 2021 and July 2021.Materials & Methods:All couples in the study had idiopathic male infertility. Retrospectively, two groups were analysed, i.e., Group A with 56 subjects in which first semen sample was used for ICSI cycle and another Group B with 41 subjects in which second semen sample collected within a shorter abstinence period of 1 h was used.Statistical Analysis:The data were descriptively analysed using GraphPad Prism (vs. 9.2). Unpaired t-test and analysis of variance test were used to determine the significance. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The age of female subjects in Group A was 29.9 ± 3.5 years while it was 29.4 ± 3.4 years in Group B. Similarly, the age of male subjects was 32.2 ± 3.6 years and 31.9 ± 4.1 years in Group A and Group B, respectively, with no statistical differences in any gender between the groups (P > 0.05). Apart from initial progressive motility (P = 0.004), none of the parameters such as total volume, total sperm count and morphology were significantly different (P > 0.05) between Group A and samples of Group B. Similarly, parameters such as volume (P = 0.006) and post-wash motility (P < 0.001) were significantly different between Group A and samples of Group B. However, there was no significant difference in sperm count and morphology (P > 0.05). Grade 1 embryos on day 3 were 345 (62.8%) in Group A and 170 (54.3%) in Group B. Overall, the total usable embryos in Group A and Group B were 222 (40.4%) and 148 (47.3%), respectively (P > 0.05).Conclusion:With regard to compromised sperm parameters, our findings do suggest that the second ejaculate is quite relevant to ‘in vitro’ reproductive treatments and a simple request for a second consecutive ejaculate (shorter abstinence period of 1 h) could provide the same results in terms of fertilisation. We observed the increased chances of usable embryos in the second ejaculate group.

In vitro effects of pentoxifylline and coenzyme Q10 on the sperm of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia patients

The effect of in-vitro sperm incubation with Pentoxifylline (PTX) and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) patients was evaluated. Semen samples were obtained from men with Normozoospermia and men with OAT. Motile sperm from the two groups were subdivided into four subgroups: (i) without incubation with PTX + CoQ10; (ii) incubation with PTX; (iii) Incubation with CoQ10; and (iv) incubation with a combination of PTX + CoQ10. Then, sperm parameters, chromatin, DNA and membrane integrity, protamine deficiency, apoptosis, mitochondrial activity, sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD), hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS), chromomycin A3 (CMA3), Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL), and diaminobenzidine (DAB) assays were evaluated, respectively. Sperm incubated with CoQ10 and a combination of CoQ10 and PTX resulted in a significant increase in the sperm parameters. Also, a significant decrease was noted with a combination of PTX and CoQ10 in normal men. There was a significant difference between CoQ10 treated and CoQ10 + PTX treated groups in comparison with the OAT group in the percentage of the DNA fragmentation, sperm apoptosis, AB+, HOS test + and sperm mitochondrial activity. Incubated sperm with CoQ10, PTX, and in combination with each other can improve sperm parameters in OAT patients.

Dairy Product Consumption and Oligo-Astheno-Teratozoospermia Risk: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study in China.

Background: Researches on the association of dairy products consumption with Oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) risk has been limited and controversial. Therefore, we aim to explore the aforementioned association among Chinese men.Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in men consisting of 106 cases of OAT and 581 controls. Intakes of dairy products and their related nutrients were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and semen quality was analyzed according to the World Health Organization guidelines. The daily intake of dairy products and their related nutrients was categorized into three groups with the lowest tertile serving as the reference category. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of association between dairy intake and OTA risk were calculated by the multivariable logistic regression models.Results: No significant association was found between total dairy (OR T3vs.T1 =1.53, 95% CI: 0.85–2.78), protein (OR T3vs.T1 =1.51, 95% CI: 0.84–2.75), or calcium (OR T3vs.T1 = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.81–2.66) and the OAT risk in the main findings. However, we observed a statistically significant positive association of dairy fat intake with OAT risk (OR T3vs.T1 =1.93, 95% CI: 1.06–3.58). The findings were consistent with the main results when we carried out subgroup analysis stratified by body mass index.Conclusion: A significant positive association was found between dairy fat intake and the risk of OAT. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to confirm this finding.

KIF3B gene silent variant leading to sperm morphology and motility defects and male infertility†.

Sperm structural and functi onal defects are leading causes of male infertility. Patients with immotile sperm disorders suffer from axoneme failure and show a significant reduction in sperm count. The kinesin family member 3B (KIF3B) is one of the genes involved in the proper formation of sperm with a critical role in intraflagellar and intramanchette transport. A part of exon 2 and exons 3-5 of the KIF3B encodes a protein coiled-coil domain that interacts with intraflagellar transport 20 (IFT20) from the intraflagellar transport protein complex. In the present study, the coding region of KIF3B coiled-coil domain was assessed in 88 oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) patients, and the protein expression was evaluated in the mature spermatozoa of the case and control groups using immunocytochemistry and western blotting. According to the results, there was no genetic variation in the exons 3-5 of the KIF3B, but a new A>T variant was identified within the exon 2 in 30 patients, where nothing was detected in the control group. In contrast to healthy individuals, significantly reduced protein expression was observable in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients carrying variation where protein organization was disarranged, especially in the principal piece and midpiece of the sperm tail. Besides, the protein expression level was lower in the patients' samples compared to that of the control group. According to the results of the present study the KIF3B gene variation as well as lower protein expression leads to defects in sperm morphology and motility and consequently to male infertility.

A novel homozygous missense mutation in AK7 causes multiple morphological anomalies of the flagella and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

To identify the genetic causes of multiple morphological anomalies of the flagella (MMAF) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the proband to identify pathogenic mutation for infertility. Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis detected the expression level and localization of adenylate kinase 7 (AK7). We identified a novel homozygous missense mutation (NM_152327: c.1846G > A; p.E616K) in AK7 in two brothers with MMAF and OAT from a consanguineous family by WES. Western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments determined that the expression level of AK7 decreased in the sperm from the proband. The proband and his wife underwent two cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment but got unfavorable outcomes. This study could provide precise genetic diagnosis for the patient and expand the spectrum of AK7 mutations.