Seminal Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity Research Articles

Relation of Serum and Semen Malondialdehyde and Total Anti-Oxidants with Sperm Parameters in Infertile Men

Problem statement: Oxidative Stress (OS) has been recognized as one of the most important cause of male infertility. We studied the relation of serum and Semen Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) with sperm parameters in infertile men with sperm count within the normal range. Approach: The prospective case- control study performed on infertile men presenting to the infertility clinics of Mirzakochak khan hospital, Tehran university of Medical Sciences from June 2007 to June 2009. The samples were collected consecutively and the total of 40 infertile men was enrolled in the study. Also, 40 healthy men were matched as control group. MDA and TAC in serum and seminal plasma were measured and relation between them and semen analysis parameters were evaluated. The MDA was measured as nmol mL−1 and the TAC was expressed as g dL−1. Results: Analysis showed that the amount of semen MDA was statistically different in infertile and healthy control groups. We did not find any significant relation between smoking and sperm parameters in infertile men. The relation between semen MDA and abnormal sperm abnormal morphology (p = 0.003, r = -0.468) and semen TAC and weak sperm motility (p = 0.037, r = -0.359) was significant. Conclusion: Immediate attention should be directed at simplifying and validating the evaluation of reactive oxygen species and OS status so that it can be performed routinely.

Is oxidative stress an etiologic factor in idiopathic male infertility?

The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total peroxide (TP) levels in the blood and seminal plasma of idiopathic infertile patients were compared with those of fertile controls to determine the role of oxidative stress in the etiology of idiopathic male infertility. Material and methods: Thirty-two idiopathic infertile males and 30 healthy, married, age-matched control subjects were included in the study. TAC and TP levels were measured in the blood and seminal plasma, and sperm parameters were studied in both groups. Results: Sperm parameters were significantly impaired in the study group compared with the controls. Blood plasma TAC and TP levels in the patient group were 1.46 ± 0.62 mmol Trolox equiv./L and 8.38 ± 0.87 mmol H_2O_2/L, respectively, compared with 1.72 ± 1.70 mmol Trolox equiv./L and 8.59 ± 1.08 mmol H_2O_2/L in the control group. Seminal plasma TAC and TP levels in the patient and control groups were 13.48 ± 2.03 mmol Trolox equiv./L, 7.79 ± 0.38 mmol H_2O_2/L, 14.06 ± 2.30 mmol Trolox equiv./L, and 7.84 ± 0.51 mmol H_2O_2/L, respectively. TAC and TP levels in the blood and seminal plasma did not differ significantly between the patient group and the control group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that oxidative stress is not the cause of impaired sperm parameters in idiopathic infertile men.

Hormonal Regulation of Total Antioxidant Capacity in Seminal Plasma

Infertility is associated with oxidative stress, normally counterbalanced by different antioxidant systems. In order to explore the hormonal control of seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) we evaluated TAC and hormone patterns in a group of unselected infertile patients and control subjects. One hundred and ten infertile patients (divided into 3 groups: inflammation, varicocele, and other etiologies) and 31 fertile men were examined, evaluating blood serum gonadotropins, testosterone, estradiol, free tri-iodothyronine, free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), thyrotropin, prolactin (PRL), seminal parameters, and TAC. TAC was measured using the H(2)O(2)-metmyoglobin system, which generates the spectroscopically detectable radical cation of the chromogenous compound 2,2(I)-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate). The "lag time" of its appearance is proportional to the antioxidant activity. Lag phase was significantly higher in varicocele vs controls, whereas it was lower in patients with inflammation vs varicocele or other kinds of infertility. The correlation analysis between hormones and seminal parameters showed an inverse correlation between PRL and sperm motility, and a direct correlation of TAC with PRL and FT4, but not with gonadotropins or gonadal steroids. Our data suggest that systemic hormones may play a role in regulating seminal antioxidant capacity. This is interesting also because some hormones, such as thyroid and pituitary hormones, are not usually tested in the first-level evaluation of male patients with fertility problems.

Seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity and semen parameters in patients with varicocele

Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was evaluated in the seminal plasma of infertile patients with varicocele in relation to their semen parameters. The study recruited 60 patients affected by varicocele and 10 fertile non-varicocele subjects as controls. Controls had normal semen parameters and proven fertility. On the basis of semen parameters, patients with varicocele were grouped into normozoospermic (n = 12), asthenozoospermic (n = 8), oligoasthenozoospermic (n = 40). The group with oligosthenozoospermia was divided into mild (<20 x 10(6)/ml; > or =15 x 10(6)/ml), moderate (<15 x 10(6)/ml; > or =5 x 10(6)/ml), and severe (<5 x 10(6)/ml), based on sperm count. Antioxidant activity was measured in seminal plasma and peripheral blood using the free oxygen radicals defence test. No significant differences were observed in peripheral blood TAC concentrations between controls and groups. In patients with varicocele and moderate oligoasthenozoospermia or severe oligoasthenozoospermia, seminal plasma TAC concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in controls and normozoospermic patients with varicocele. Moreover, in patients with severe oligosthenozoospermia, seminal plasma TAC concentrations were also significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in asthenozoozpermic patients with varicocele. In all subjects, concentrations of TAC showed a positive correlation with sperm concentration (r = 0.93, P < 0.05) and motility (r = 0.92, P < 0.05).

Influence of polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase T1 on Chinese infertile patients with varicocele

To investigate the influence of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) gene polymorphism on Chinese infertile patients with varicocele, 63 infertile patients with varicocele and 54 healthy fertile controls were recruited in this case-control study. Our results show that oxidative damage may be the cause of infertility in patients with varicocele, and GSTT1 null genotype predisposes to over oxidative damage to spermatocytes of infertile patients with varicocele.

Diagnostic value of the total antioxidant capacity assay in human seminal plasma by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of male infertility. Measurement of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) may be helpful in the diagnosis of male infertility. Our aim was to identify a cutoff value, sensitivity and specificity of TAC in seminal plasma from donors and patients.

Levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in seminal plasma and their relationship with seminal parameters

BackgroundThere is growing evidence that damage to spermatozoa by reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in male infertility. The aim of the present study was to assess seminal plasma levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), free 8-Isoprostane and activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in men with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia compared with normozoospermic males.MethodsThe patients consisted of 46 men with seminal parameters abnormalities. The patients were grouped into asthenozoospermic (n = 15), asthenoteratozoospermic (n = 16) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (n = 15). The control group consisted of 16 healthy males with normozoospermia. Catalase activity was measured by Aebi spectrophotometeric method. Levels of TAC and SOD were measured by commercially available colorimetric assays. Level of free 8-Isoprostane was assessed by commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method. Differences between groups were assessed using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Coefficients of correlation were calculated using Spearman's correlation analysis. All hypothesis tests were two-tailed with statistical significance assessed at the p value < 0.05 level with 95% confidence intervalsResultsLevels of catalase and TAC were significantly lower in patients than the control group. No significant changes were seen in SOD activities. Levels of free 8-Isoprostane were significantly higher in patients than the control group. Furthermore, asthenozoospermic, asthenoteratozoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic groups had significantly lower values of catalase activity and TAC when compared to normozoospermic males. Levels of free 8-Isoprostane were significantly higher in all patients subgroups than the control group. Levels of catalase and TAC were positively correlated with sperm motility and morphology. Free 8-Isoprostane levels showed an inverse correlation with sperm motility and morphology.ConclusionDecreasing seminal plasma antioxidants levels, especially catalase and TAC, could have significant role in etiology of impaired sperm function. Measurement of 8-Isoprostane may be used as a specific biomarker for assessing oxidative stress on sperm.

266 ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF BOAR SEMINAL PLASMA

It has been established that antioxidants in seminal plasma play an important role in protecting the spermatozoa against oxidative stress-induced damage. This study was conducted to measure the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of boar seminal plasma. Fifty-four ejaculates were collected from 17 mature boars of proven fertility by the gloved-hand technique. Ejaculates were collected separately in different fractions (pre-sperm, sperm-rich, and post-sperm) according to their macroscopic (color) characteristics. After centrifugation (2400g for 3 min), the sperm pellet was discarded; the supernatant was recentrifuged and filtered through a 10-μm nylon mesh filter to remove debris or clumped spermatozoa. The seminal plasma was frozen at -20°C until further use. After thawing at room temperature, seminal plasma aliquots of 5 μL were immediately assessed for total antioxidant capacity. TAC was measured using the ABTS/H2O2/HRP decoloration method (Cano A et al. 2000 Redox Report 5, 365–370) which allows differentiation between hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity capacity. TAC units were expressed as micromolar (μM) Trolox equivalents. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Only the hydrophilic activity was measurable, with the lipophilic activity being undetected. The overall TAC of seminal samples (mean ± SEM) was 1623.7 ± 56.28 μM, ranging from 674 to 2428 μM. Different TACs were observed among males (P &lt; 0.05) and between ejaculates of the same male (P &lt; 0.05). Ejaculate fraction had a significant effect (P &lt; 0.001) on the TAC levels. The post-sperm fraction had a significantly lower TAC level (1104.09 ± 57.66 μM) than the pre-sperm and sperm-rich fractions (1611.95 ± 153.68 μM and 1356.136 ± 72.47 μM, respectively, P &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, hydrophilic antioxidant activity represented the main contribution to the TAC in boar seminal plasma, showing differences among males, between ejaculates of the same male, and also between the different ejaculate fractions. This work was supported by CICYT (AGF98-0533; AGL01-0471) and INIA (RZ01-019).

Total antioxidant capacity in patients with varicoceles

Objective To explore a possible molecular defect linked to infertility, studying total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of seminal plasma in varicocele (VAR). Design Case-series study. Setting Volunteers in an academic research environment and out-patients in clinical service. Patient(s) Twenty-five VAR patients (9 oligospermic and 16 normospermic) vs 24 non-VAR controls (7 subjects with idiopathic oligospermia and 17 normospermic subjects). Intervention(s) Evaluation of seminal plasma TAC. Main outcome measure(s) TAC was measured using myoglobin, as a source of radicals, which interact with a chromogen 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS), whose radical cation is spectroscopically detectable. The latency phase (Lag) in the accumulation of ABTS cation is proportional to antioxidant concentration. Result(s) Lag showed significantly greater values in the all VAR patients vs non-VAR subjects. Oligospermic-VAR patients showed the greatest values. Lag and sperm motility significantly correlated in VAR normospermic patients. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) showed significant inverse association with Lag in same group. Conclusion(s) The augmented Lag values could indicate an ineffective utilization of antioxidants in oligospermic-VAR, while in normo-VAR the direct correlation between TAC and motility suggest a potential protective role toward sperm motility. In the same group, the inverse correlation with FSH suggests that greater FSH levels induce a better utilization of antioxidants by spermatozoa.

Comparison of two methods for assessment of seminal oxidative stress in infertile men.

Objective: Seminal oxidative stress (OS) is defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and is highly correlated with male infertility. Evaluation of seminal OS status is of important diagnostic and prognostic value in a male infertility clinic. The objective of this study was to compare two methods for evaluation of the seminal OS: 1) by measurement of ROS directly in neat semen, and 2) by measurement of ROS in washed semen, TAC in seminal plasma, and the calculation of a composite ROS-TAC score.