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Hou Y, He Y, Wang J, Zhou Y, Ma B, Li X, Shi L, Zhang Q. Comprehensive metabolomics profiling of seminal plasma in asthenozoospermia caused by different etiologies. Clin Chim Acta 2023; 548:117530. [PMID: 37652159 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthenozoospermia (AZS) is a disease characterized by decreased sperm motility induced by multiple etiologies, and the pathological mechanisms of various AZS are unclear. We simultaneously analyzed the metabolic profiling of four representative AZS to provide new insights into the etiologies of AZS. METHOD Seminal plasma samples were collected from healthy control (HC; n = 30) and four AZS induced by varicocele (VA, n = 30), obesity (OA, n = 22), reproductive system infections (RA; n = 17) and idiopathic (IA, n = 30), respectively, and were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Disturbed metabolites and metabolic pathways were compared between AZS and HC, as well as IA and the other three AZS. RESULTS A total of 40 different metabolites were identified in the seminal plasma of AZS and HC, of which lactic acid, fructose, citric acid, glutamine and pyruvic acid metabolic abnormalities associated with all the AZS groups, while each AZS group had unique metabolic changes. RA was significantly separated from the other three AZS, and metabolites such as cholesterol, octadecanoic acid and serine mainly contributed to the separation. CONCLUSION The comprehensive metabolomic analysis and comparison of four various AZS provided evidence and clues for the mechanism mining, which will benefit future etiology, diagnosis and treatment of AZS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyang Hou
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanping He
- School of Economics & Management, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjie Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfen Zhou
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Ma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Shi
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China.
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Neto FTL, Marques RA, de Freitas Cavalcanti Filho A, Araujo LCN, Lima SVC, Pinto L, Silva RO. 1H NMR-based metabonomics for infertility diagnosis in men with varicocele. J Assist Reprod Genet 2020; 37:2233-2247. [PMID: 32715373 PMCID: PMC7492286 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-01896-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE "Omics" techniques have been used to understand and to identify biomarkers of male infertility. We report on the first metabonomics models created to diagnose varicocele and infertility among men with varicocele. METHODS We recruited 35 infertile men with varicocele (VI group), 21 fertile men with varicocele (VF group) and 24 fertile men without varicocele (C group). All men underwent standard semen analysis, scrotal duplex ultrasonography, and sexual hormone level measurement. Hydrogen-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra of seminal plasma were used to create metabonomics models to discriminate between men with and without varicocele, and between fertile and infertile men with varicocele. RESULTS Using the statistical formalisms partial least square discriminants analysis and genetic algorithm-based linear discriminant analysis (GA-LDA), we created two models that discriminated the three groups from each other with accuracy of 92.17%. We also created metabonomics models using orthogonal partial least square discriminants analysis and GA-LDA that discriminated VF group from VI group, with an accuracy of 94.64% and 100% respectively. We identified 19 metabolites that were important in group segregation: caprate, 2-hydroxy-3-methylvalerate, leucine, valine, 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, alanine, 4-aminobutyrate, isoleucine, citrate, methanol, glucose, glycosides, glycerol-3-phosphocoline, n-acetyltyrosine, glutamine, tyrosine, arginine, and uridine. CONCLUSIONS 1HNMR-based metabonomics of seminal plasma can be used to create metabonomics models to discriminate between men with varicocele from those without varicocele, and between fertile men with varicocele from those infertile with varicocele. Furthermore, the most important metabolites for group segregation are involved in the oxidative stress caused by varicocele.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Tenorio Lira Neto
- Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua Guilherme Salazar, n 150, apt 601E, Recife, PE ZIP 52061-275 Brazil
- Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira, Rua dos Coelho, 300, Coelhos, Recife, PE ZIP 50070-902 Brazil
| | - Ronmilson Alves Marques
- Fundamental Chemistry Department, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Jornalista Anibal Fernandes, s/n° Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE ZIP 50740-560 Brazil
| | | | | | - Salvador Vilar Correia Lima
- Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Hospital das Clínicas - Campus UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego,”s/n° - Bloco “A” - Térreo Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE ZIP 50670-420 Brazil
| | - Licarion Pinto
- Fundamental Chemistry Department, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Jornalista Anibal Fernandes, s/n° Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE ZIP 50740-560 Brazil
| | - Ricardo Oliveira Silva
- Fundamental Chemistry Department, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Jornalista Anibal Fernandes, s/n° Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE ZIP 50740-560 Brazil
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Sousa SD, Lucini L, Ajmone-Marsan P, van Tilburg MF, Moura AA. Untargeted metabolomic profiling of accessory sex gland fluid from Morada Nova rams. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:409-418. [PMID: 32202367 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to characterize the metabolome of accessory gland fluid (AGF) of locally adapted Morada Nova rams, raised in the Brazilian Northeast. AGF was collected by an artificial vagina from five vasectomized rams. Metabolites were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), with the support of Human Metabolome Database, PubChem, LIPID Metabolites, Pathways Strategy databases, and MetaboAnalyst platforms. There were 182 and 190 metabolites detected by GC/MS and LC/MS, respectively, with an overlap of one molecule. Lipids and lipid-like molecules were the most abundant class of metabolites in the ram AGF (127 compounds), followed by amino acids, peptides, and analogs(103 metabolites). Considering all GC/MS and LC/MS, fructose, glycerol, citric acid, d-mannitol, d-glucose, and l-(+)-lactic acid were the most abundant single metabolites present in the ram AGF. Meaningful pathways associated with AGF metabolites included glycine, serine and threonine metabolism; pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis; galactose metabolism; glutamate metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism, and so forth. In conclusion, the combined use of LC/MS and GC/MS was essential for getting a holistic view of the compounds embedded in the ram AGF. Chemical analysis of the accessory sex gland secretion is relevant for understanding sperm function and fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solange D Sousa
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Luigi Lucini
- Department for Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Paolo Ajmone-Marsan
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition-DIANA and Proteomics and Nutrigenomics Research Center-PRONUTRIGEN, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Maurício F van Tilburg
- Department of Animal Science - Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Arlindo A Moura
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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Mumcu A, Karaer A, Dogan B, Tuncay G. Metabolomics analysis of seminal plasma in patients with idiopathic Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy. Andrology 2019; 8:450-456. [PMID: 31520509 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male infertility is a global health issue caused by a combination of different factors. Specialists generally rely on semen analysis to diagnose male infertility. However, it is known that diagnostic semen analysis fails to identify about 50% of male infertility disorders. Recently, metabolomics has been proven to be a powerful technique for the diagnosis of different diseases. OBJECTIVE To determine whether metabolites could be used as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of male factor infertility through comparing seminal plasma samples from infertile men with oligoasthenoteratozospermia (OAT) and samples from normozoospermic controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study utilized high-resolution 1 H NMR spectroscopy to reveal whether the metabolomic changes of seminal plasma obtained from 31 patients with oligoasthenoteratozospermia (OAT) are different from the ones obtained from 28 normozoospermic controls. RESULTS Multivariate statistical analysis of NMR data concluded that the metabolomic profile of samples from patients with OAT exhibits statistically significant differences when compared to the controls. The differences were based on the metabolites lactate, citrate, lysine, arginine, valine, glutamine, creatinine, α-ketoglutaric acid, spermine, putrescine, and tyrosine. Except the tyrosine, levels of the above metabolites were significantly decreased in patients with OAT compared to the controls. The levels of citrate, choline, spermine, putrescine, α-ketoglutaric acid, valine, and tyrosine were significantly different (p < 5 × 10-4 ) between two groups. On the other hand, levels of lactate, creatinine, lysine, arginine, and glutamine were also statistically significant (0.001 < p < 0.05). However, considering the p-values, the physiological relevance of these metabolites may be lower when compared to the others. A PLS-DA model built on the NMR data achieved 89.29% sensitivity and 93.55% specificity results in a leave-one-out cross-validation process. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 1 H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomic analysis could be used as a diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of oligoasthenoteratozospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mumcu
- Laboratory of NMR, Scientific and Technological Research Center, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - A Karaer
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - B Dogan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
| | - G Tuncay
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey
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Role of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) in the management of male infertility. Reprod Biomed Online 2018; 36:311-326. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Ebrahimi F, Ibrahim B, Teh CH, Murugaiyah V, Chan KL. Urinary NMR-based metabolomic analysis of rats possessing variable sperm count following orally administered Eurycoma longifolia extracts of different quassinoid levels. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 182:80-89. [PMID: 26899442 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali, TA) roots have been ethnically used as a remedy to boost male sexual desire, libido, energy and fertility. AIM OF THE STUDY The study evaluated the effect of TA extracts with different quassinoid levels on rats sperm count and examined corresponding post-treatment urinary metabolic changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats, categorized into 4 groups of 6 rats each, were orally administered for 48 days with water for the control (group 1), 125mg/kg of TA water extract (TAW, group 2), 125mg/kg of TA quassinoid-poor extract (TAQP, group 3) and 21mg/kg of TA quassinoid-rich extract (TAQR, group 4). Upon completion of the 48-day treatment, the urine samples were analyzed by NMR and the animals were subsequently sacrificed for sperm count analysis. The urine profiles were categorized according to sperm count level. RESULTS The results showed that the sperm count in TAW- and TAQR-treated groups was significantly higher compared to the TAQP-administered and control groups. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model indicated a clear separation among the urine profiles with respect to sperm count level. Urine (1)H-NMR profiles of the high-sperm count group contained higher concentrations of trigonelline, alanine, benzoic acid and higher intensity of a signal at 3.42ppm, while ethanol was at higher concentration in the normal-sperm count group. CONCLUSIONS The results proved the efficacy of quassinoids on sperm count increase in rats and provided quantitative markers in urine suitable for analysis of sperm profile and male fertility status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forough Ebrahimi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Baharudin Ibrahim
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Kit-Lam Chan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
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Gupta A, Mahdi AA, Shukla KK, Ahmad MK, Bansal N, Sankhwar P, Sankhwar SN. Efficacy of Withania somnifera on seminal plasma metabolites of infertile males: a proton NMR study at 800 MHz. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2013; 149:208-14. [PMID: 23796876 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Traditional Indian systems of medicine use roots of Withania somnifera for impotence, infertility treatment, stress, and the aging process. Although Withania somnifera improves semen quality by regulating reproductive hormone levels and oxidative stress, the molecular mechanism is not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY Our study uses high-resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to explore the scientific basis to reveal the pre- and post-treatment efficacy of Withania somnifera on seminal plasma of infertile men-which remains unexplored to date. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 180 infertile male patients were administered Withania somnifera root powder at the rate of 5 g/d for a 3-month period. The study included age-matched, healthy men as a control (n=50) group. Proton NMR spectroscopy was used to measure lactate, alanine, glutamate, glutamine, citrate, lysine, choline, glycerophosphocholine (GPC), glycine, tyrosine, histidine, phenylalanine, and uridine in all seminal plasma samples. To appraise infertility levels, we also measured sperm concentration, motility, lipid peroxide, and hormonal perturbation. RESULTS Withania somnifera therapy repairs the disturbed concentrations of lactate, alanine, citrate, GPC, histidine, and phenylalanine in seminal plasma and recovers the quality of semen of post-treated compared to pre-treated infertile men. Serum biochemistry was also improved over post-therapy in infertile men. Our findings reveal that Withania somnifera not only reboots enzymatic activity of metabolic pathways and energy metabolism but also invigorates the harmonic balance of seminal plasma metabolites and reproductive hormones in infertile men. CONCLUSION The results suggest that Withania somnifera may be used as an empirical therapy for clinical management and treatment of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Gupta
- Centre of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, SGPGIMS Campus, Lucknow, India.
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Gupta A, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Shukla KK, Bansal N, Jaiswer SP, Shankhwar SN. A proton NMR study of the effect of Mucuna pruriens on seminal plasma metabolites of infertile males. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2011; 55:1060-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2011.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Revised: 03/03/2011] [Accepted: 03/05/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Gupta A, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Shukla KK, Jaiswer SP, Shankhwar SN. 1H NMR spectroscopic studies on human seminal plasma: A probative discriminant function analysis classification model. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2011; 54:106-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2010.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2010] [Revised: 07/06/2010] [Accepted: 07/18/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Stornelli A, Arauz M, Baschard H, de la Sota RL. Unilateral and bilateral vasectomy in the dog: alkaline phosphatase as an indicator of tubular patency. Reprod Domest Anim 2003; 38:1-4. [PMID: 12535322 DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0531.2003.00369.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this research was to use a model of unilateral and bilateral occlusion of the ductus deferens in the dog to study the use of alkaline phosphatase (AP) as an indicator of tubular patency. Seven healthy cross bred dogs weighing 10-15 kg BW with normal spermiogram and AP concentrations in semen were used. From each dog, three semen samples were obtained before (intact) and after right (unilateral) and left (bilateral) vasectomy. The AP concentrations were measured in duplicates by a colorimetric method in each of the three fractions (first, second (sperm-rich), third) of each ejaculate. In addition, a macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of each ejaculate was carried out to assure its quality. Data were analysed by least squares analysis of variance using SAS(R). In intact and unilateral vasectomized dogs, 96.6% of AP measured in semen corresponded to the second sperm-rich fraction whereas 1.53 and 1.83% corresponded to the first and third fractions respectively. Total AP concentrations (first and second and third fraction) in vasectomized dogs were lower than in intact animals (19.857 vs 2284.431 +/- 4.347 UAL; p < 0.001). AP concentrations were much lower in bilateral than in unilateral vasectomized dogs (142 vs 39.572 +/- 4.347 UL, p < 0.001). In summary, AP concentrations in semen can be used as an early indicator of unilateral or bilateral lack of patency of the epididymal and deferent ducts in the dog.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stornelli
- Institute of Theriogenology and Central Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
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Bourinbaiar AS, Lee CH. Synergistic effect of gramicidin and EDTA in inhibiting sperm motility and cervical mucus penetration in vitro. Contraception 1996; 54:367-72. [PMID: 8968665 DOI: 10.1016/s0010-7824(96)00205-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Gramicidin, a linear polypeptide with antiviral and antimicrobial properties, was compared in vitro with a commonly used spermicidal detergent-nonoxynol-9 (N9). The inhibition of sperm functions was evaluated by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) for sperm motility, in cervical mucus penetration assay, and by colorimetric tetrazolium salt and lactate dehydrogenase release assays routinely employed for testing the toxicity of drugs. The effective 100% inhibitory concentration (IC100) of gramicidin in a 2-min sperm immobilization assay by CASA was equal to 4 micrograms/ml, whereas IC100 of N9 was equal to 200 micrograms/ml. The presence of 0.1% of chelating agent, EDTA, reduced IC100 of gramicidin to 10 ng/ml, while less than a twofold enhancement in N9 activity was observed upon combination with EDTA. Likewise, the gramicidin/EDTA combination was 100,000 times more potent than N9/EDTA in the sperm penetration assay. Quantitative toxicity tests confirmed that gramicidin is a potent spermostatic rather than spermicidal agent. Further development of a gramicidin/EDTA formulation is warranted as a nontoxic topical contraceptive with activity against viral and microbial sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
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Hirsch IH, Jeyendran RS, Sedor J, Rosecrans RR, Staas WE. Biochemical analysis of electroejaculates in spinal cord injured men: comparison to normal ejaculates. J Urol 1991; 145:73-6. [PMID: 1984104 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)38251-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
To address the consistent finding of asthenospermia in spinal cord injured men we compared the biochemical constituents of antegrade fractions of electroejaculates of 6 such patients with the manual ejaculates of 6 volunteers. Semen samples in each group were analyzed for 19 biochemical parameters, pH and osmolality. Organic components included triglycerides, glucose, fructose, uric acid, creatinine, urea, total protein, albumin and cholesterol. Metabolic enzymes, including glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase, were measured. Inorganic constituents included chloride, sodium, potassium, zinc and phosphorous. Although not significant, higher levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were demonstrated in most electroejaculates suggesting urinary contamination of the antegrade specimens. In electroejaculates significantly lower levels (p less than 0.05) of fructose, albumin, GOT and alkaline phosphatase as well as significantly higher levels (p less than 0.05) of chloride were noted. No significant difference in osmolality or pH was found. Moreover, in the electroejaculates the levels of glucose, uric acid and all inorganic constituents approached their corresponding levels in serum. We conclude that biochemical abnormalities of the seminal plasma may contribute to seminal dysfunction of spinal cord injured men and may result from neurological injury to the accessory sex glands or from the electroejaculation procedure itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- I H Hirsch
- Department of Urology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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