Values of sperm thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance in fertile men

Cannabis and metformin on diabetic male Wistar rat sperm and reproductive organ parameters

Purpose

Cannabis use has reportedly increased in type 2 diabetic users as a possible co-treatment for associated pain and inflammation. Both cannabis and metformin (an anti-diabetic drug) have a limited number of studies completed on their effect on male reproductive parameters in a diabetic model. This study determined if cannabis and metformin administration alter various reproductive parameters in diabetic male rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats (n = 35) were fed on a high fat diet and injected with streptozotocin (30 mg/kg rat) to induce a type-2 diabetic model. Treatment groups received cannabis based on Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg per rat and metformin (50 mg/kg) every alternate day for 10 weeks. Organ weight; serum testosterone levels and sperm count, motility, lipid peroxidation, citrate synthase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were measured.

Results

Cannabis treatment induced a significant concentration dependent decrease in sperm motility at 5 mg/kg rat THC (P = 0.009) administration. Metformin significantly (P = 0.035) increased sperm counts and lactate dehydrogenase activity (P = 0.002). Both cannabis and metformin negatively affected testosterone concentrations.

Conclusions

Cannabis needs to be used cautiously as an alternative treatment in diabetic males based on the negative effects observed for the various reproductive parameters in this diabetic rat model.

Effects of progesterone nanoparticles on the sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction in asthenozoospermia men

Low motility is one of the causes of male infertility. In this study, the effects of progesterone solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) on sperm capacitation, acrosome reaction, oxidative stress and expression of SPACA1 and MAPK way genes were investigated. Progesterone SLNs were synthesized using the solvent emulsification evaporation method. Twenty asthenozoospermia samples were selected, and sperm and acrosome membrane integrity, acrosome reaction, sperm motility, viability, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status tests and PKA, PTK, P38MAPK and SPACA1 gene expressions were assessed. The synthesized nanoparticles were prepared with the size (187.6 nm), PDI (0.184), EE (85.82%), LP (3.43%) and ZP (-23.5mV). Progesterone SLNs increased sperm and acrosome membrane integrity and TAC (p < .05). Also, the expression of P38MAPK, PKA, PTK, and SPACA1 genes in this group showed a significant increase (p < .001). Progesterone SLNs increased acrosome reaction, sperm capacitation and TAC. Also, it increased the expression of PTK PKA, SPACA1 and P38MAPK genes.

Correlation between the Activity of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase and Oxidative Stress Markers in the Saliva of Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND

Reactive aldehydes are involved in diseases associated with oxidative stress, including diabetes. Human salivary aldehyde dehydrogenase (hsALDH) presumably protects us from many toxic ingredient/contaminant aldehydes present in food.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to probe the activity of hsALDH in patients with diabetes and than to correlate it with various oxidative stress markers in the saliva.

METHODS

The saliva samples were collected from total 161 diabetic patients from Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Diabetes, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), AMU, Aligarh, (India). HsALDH activity and markers of oxidative stress [8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHDG), malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs)] were measured in the saliva samples.

RESULTS

Patients with early stage of diabetes had higher activity of hsALDH when compared with the control group. As the history of diabetes increases, the activity of the enzyme decreases and also higher oxidative stress markers (8-OHDG, MDA and AGEs) are detected in the saliva samples. Negative significant correlation between hsALDH activity and oxidative stress markers were observed (p <0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The activity of hsALDH increases in early stages of diabetes most probably to counter the increased oxidative stress associated with diabetes. However, in later stages of diabetes, the activity of the enzyme decreases, possibly due to its inactivation resulting from glycation.

Oxidative stress markers in seminal plasma of idiopathic infertile men may be associated with glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 null genotypes

This study aimed to investigate the association between glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1 and T1 null genotypes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in male infertility. For this purpose, semen samples were collected from fertile and infertile subjects, and then they were genotyped for GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes using multiplex-PCR. The TBARS, TAC and NO levels in seminal plasma were then measured via the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). A significant association was observed between GSTT1 null genotype and oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. But, the GSTM1 null genotype was merely associated with teratozoospermia. Moreover, the GSTT1-/GSTM1+ combined genotype was associated with all subgroups of male infertility. Besides, an association was observed between GSTT1-/GSTM1- genotype and asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. Further analysis showed that the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased NO in asthenozoospermia. Also, the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with increased TBARS in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. As well, GSTM1 null genotype was associated with decreased TAC and increased NO in asthenozoospermia respectively. As a preliminary conclusion, the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes could be considered as genetic risk factors for male infertility, interfering with some oxidative stress markers in infertile men.

Potentiometry as a Tool for Monitoring of Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress Estimation in Medicine

The complexity of biological objects and the rapid change in their composition after sampling, the variety of compounds of different chemical nature, possessing oxidative and antioxidant properties, make the task of its estimating extremely nontrivial and important for food, nutrients and human health characterization. The paper discusses the use of potentiometry in determining integral antioxidant/oxidant activity mainly of biological fluids and human skin. The source of information is the electrode potential shift that occurs when the analyzed object is inserted in the solution of the mediator system or when the mediator system is exposed to human skin. The experimental approaches, protocols, calculations are described. A number of examples of antioxidant activity and oxidative stress estimation in medicine are presented. The works show lower levels of antioxidant activity (AOA) of plasma and blood serum in patients with cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and malignant neoplasms as compared with the healthy volunteers. It was found out that antioxidant activity of fertile men semen is higher than AOA of infertile patients. Using the method discussed have shown that in some infertile male patients antioxidant activity of semen has been accompanied by oxidant activity. It has been found, that antioxidant activity of skin increases after intake of ascorbic acid and vitamin-enriched juices. The described approach holds considerable promise for monitoring oxidative stress of the whole organism and its systems, and for selecting effective and safe therapy. Thus, it opens up new opportunities in expanding the use of analytical chemistry in such an important field as medicine.

Role of salivary malondialdehyde in assessment of oxidative stress among diabetics

AIMS

To evaluate and compare the salivary content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with type 2 diabetes and control subjects.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 30 freshly diagnosed subjects of diabetes mellitus and 30 volunteers with no diabetes mellitus. Serum and salivary MDS levels were evaluated among all the subjects.

RESULTS

The mean serum MDA in group controls and diabetics was 0.95 ± 0.13 and 3.11 ± 0.42. The mean salivary MDA in group controls and diabetics was 0.26 ± 0.05 μmol/l and 0.81 ± 0.07 μmol/l. The mean serum and salivary MDA levels were significantly higher in group diabetics than control group (p < 0.001 and <0.001) respectively. There was significant positive strong correlation between serum and salivary MDA levels in both controls and diabetics groups (r = 0.857, p < 0.001 and r = 0.891, p < 0.001) respectively.

CONCLUSION

MDA was detectable in saliva in both diabetic and control groups. There was a positive significant correlation between salivary and serum MDA in diabetic and control subjects. Hence, salivary MDA appears to be an indicator of serum MDA concentration.

The Effect of Purslane Seeds on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Patients: A Randomized Controlled Cross-over Clinical Trial

Background:

This study was designed to examine the effects of purslane seeds on biomarkers of oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods:

This cross-over randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 40 patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 10 g/day purslane seeds with 240 cc low-fat yogurt (intervention group) or only 240 cc low-fat yogurt (as a control group) for 5 weeks. After a 2-week washout period, subjects were moved to the alternate arm for an additional 5 weeks. At baseline and end of each study phase, fasting blood samples were collected to quantify biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Results:

We observed a slight decrease in plasma total antioxidant capacity in both groups, however, between-group changes were not significant (−2.67 vs. −2.95 μg/dL, P = 0.94). Plasma malondialdehyde in purslane group increased slightly, however, we observed no significant effect in the control group (1.62 vs. −0.47 μg/dL, P = 0.58). Although both groups had a slight reduction in plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), we failed to find any significant effect of purslane on plasma ox-LDL (−1.06 vs. −1.71 μg/dL, P = 0.85).

Conclusions:

This cross-over clinical trial revealed that consumption of purslane seeds for 5 weeks in type 2 diabetic patients did not result in improved oxidative stress.

Total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation in semen of patient with hyperviscosity

Semen hyperviscosity (SHV) is one of the factors involved in deficiency in sperm function. This research aimed to evaluate seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in infertile patients with hyperviscous and non-hyperviscous semen samples to understand whether hyperviscous semen is associated with oxidative damage in infertile subjects. In this cross sectional study, 59 semen samples were provided by fertile (n=12) individuals as control, infertile patients with normal viscosity (n=25) and infertile patients with hyperviscosity (n=22). After semen parameters examination, semen viscosity was studied by glass pipettes. Seminal plasma TAC and MDA levels were measured by ferric reducing of antioxidant power (FRAP) and thiobarbituric acid reaction (TBAR) methods, respectively. A probability less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant throughout the article. The mean of sperm parameters including: counts, motility and normal morphology in patients with hyperviscosity were significantly lower than those in non-hyperviscosity patients (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). The mean of seminal plasma TAC value in seminal plasma of non-hyperviscosity patients (1710.31 ± 458.67 µmol/l) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than that of hyperviscosity group (1230.25 ± 352 µmol/l). A trend toward a higher mean of seminal plasma MDA value was estimated for hyperviscous group compared with non-hyperviscous (1.01 ± 0.41 nmol/ml vs. 0.94 ± 0.28 nmol/l); however, it was nonsignificant. Hyperviscous semen impairs seminal plasma TAC which is eventually associated with sperm membrane lipid peroxidation.

[Evaluation of sperm functional parameters in normozoospermic infertile individuals]

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the integrity of the chromatin structure, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage and lipid peroxidation of semen samples from infertile men classified as unexplained infertility.

METHODS

Between February 2010 and July 2011 semen parameters and functional tests were evaluated in 10 subjects with proven fertility, 10 that belong to general population and 8 with idiopathic infertility. In addition to the conventional semen analysis, the following unconventional seminal analysis were conducted: evaluation of ROS, MMP, sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) by flow cytometry, assessment of sperm membrane lipid peroxidation by spectrophotometry, and alkaline comet assay by electrophoresis.

RESULTS

We observed a significant increase (P<.05) in the production of ROS and the fragmentation or sperm DNA damage in the population of infertile men. There were no statistically significant differences (P>.05) in the analysis of sperm membrane integrity between the groups. Moreover, we observed significant correlations (P<.05) between SCSA and comet assay (r=0.86) and the production of intracellular ROS (r=-0.588).

CONCLUSION

The sperm from individuals with idiopathic infertility showed high levels of intracellular ROS and increased levels of DNA fragmentation in the sperm. These results suggest that these two parameters are related to unexplained infertility and therefore have clinical importance as a possible diagnostic and prognostic tool in the evaluation of idiopathic male infertility.

Seminal plasma levels of 15-F2α-isoprostane, malondialdehyde and total homocysteine in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic males

It has been proposed that oxidative stress plays an important role in male infertility. The aims of this study were to compare seminal plasma levels of 15-F2t-isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2α), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total (sum of free and bound) homocysteine (tHcy) from normozoospermic vs. asthenozoospermic men, and to examine the relationships between tHcy and lipid peroxidation products. The study was a case-control study with a simple random sampling. The case group was consisted of 15 asthenozoospermic males. This group was compared with 15 normozoospermic men. Seminal plasma levels of 15-F2α-isoprostane and tHcy were measured using commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits. MDA levels were determined by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two groups. 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. MDA levels were higher in asthenozoospermic subjects than in control subjects (0.72±0.06 μM vs. 0.40±0.06 μM; p<0.05). No differences were seen in 15-F2α-isoprostane levels in asthenozoospermic subjects and controls (65.00±3.20 pg/ml vs. 58.17±4.12 pg/ml; p>0.05). Interestingly, tHcy levels were to be slightly higher in asthenozoospermic subjects than in controls (6.18±1.17 μM vs. 4.8±0.52 μM). Sperm motility was inversely correlated with seminal plasma 15-F2α-isoprostane and MDA levels, respectively (p<0.05). In summary, seminal plasma levels of 15-F2α-isoprostane and tHcy showed no significant difference between normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men. Sperm motility was not correlated with seminal plasma levels of tHcy. No relationship was found between tHcy and lipid peroxidation.

High levels of lipid peroxidation in semen of diabetic patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) (one of the final products of lipid peroxidation and well-known marker of oxidative stress) in semen of infertile men with type 2 diabetes and to investigate its relationship with their glycaemic control. Forty infertile men with type 2 diabetes were evaluated. The mean ages were 36.5 ± 8.0. Men with diabetes were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 20) with glycated haemoglobin >10% and group B (n = 20) with glycated haemoglobin <7%. A single sample was examined according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction, 1999, Cambridge University Press). MDA was assessed using the thiobarbituric acid method. MDA concentration in semen of group A patients (0.95 ± 0.35 nmol ml(-1)) was significantly higher than in group B patients (0.43 ± 0.13 nmol ml(-1)) (P value < 0.05) and had negative relationship with sperm density (r = -.717; P value < 0.05), total sperm count (r = -.625; P value < 0.05), progressive motility (r = -.489; P value < 0.05) and normal forms (r = -.545; P value < 0.05). Based on these results, it could be concluded that increase in lipid peroxidation in men with diabetes with poor metabolic control was associated with low sperm quality.

Sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidation are independent of malondialdheyde

BACKGROUND

There is clinical evidence to show that sperm DNA damage could be a marker of sperm quality and extensive data exist on the relationship between DNA damage and male fertility status. Detecting such damage in sperm could provide new elements besides semen parameters in diagnosing male infertility. We aimed to assess sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidation and to study the association between these two markers, routine semen parameters and malondialdehyde formation.

METHODS

Semen samples from 55 men attending the Histology-Embryology Laboratory of Sfax Faculty of Medicine, Tunisia, for semen investigations were analysed for sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidation using flow cytometry. The Sperm was also assessed spectrophotometrically for malondialdehyde formation.

RESULTS

Within the studied group, 21 patients were nonasthenozoospermic (sperm motility ≥ 50%) and 34 patients were considered asthenozoospermic (sperm motility < 50%). A positive correlation was found between sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidation (p = 0.01; r = 0.33). We also found a negative correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation and some sperm parameters: total motility (p = 0.001; r = -0.43), rapid progressive motility (type a motility) (p = 0.04; r = -0.27), slow progressive motility (type b motility) (p = 0.03; r = -0.28), and vitality (p < 0.001; r = -0.65). Sperm DNA fragmentation was positively correlated with coiled tail (p = 0.01; r = 0.34). The two parameters that were found to be correlated with oxidative DNA damage were leucocytes concentrations (p = 0.01; r = 0.38) and broken neck (p = 0.02; r = 0.29). Sperm MDA levels were negatively correlated with sperm concentration (p < 0.001; r = -0.57), total motility (p = 0.01; r = -0.35) and type a motility (p = 0.03; r = -0.32); but not correlated with DNA fragmentation and DNA oxidation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the evidence that oxidative stress plays a key role in inducing DNA damage; but nuclear alterations and malondialdehyde don't seem to be synchronous.

Oxidative stress, antioxidant status and lipid profile in the saliva of type 2 diabetics

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the salivary content of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHOD

We studied 25 patients with type 2 diabetes and other 25 age- and sex-matched health control. To evaluate the oxidative status we measured the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the saliva and serum of all participants. Lipid profile was also estimated through measuring total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels. Antioxidant levels were also assessed through measuring the salivary and serum concentration of uric acid, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione (GSH).

RESULTS

The high concentration of lipid fractions in saliva usually follows that recorded in serum. Salivary MDA levels, a product of lipid peroxidation, were significantly increased among diabetics together with uric acid. However, GSH levels were similar to those of the control group.

CONCLUSION

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant parameters assessed in saliva of diabetic patients may be of great importance in evaluating the disease activity and severity. The increase in lipid peroxidation and the tendency of antioxidants to rise in diabetes is probably due to an adaptive response to the pro-oxidant status of diabetes.

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

Background

There 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.

Methods

The 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 intervals

Results

Levels 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.

Conclusion

Decreasing 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.

Synthesis, characterization, and sorption properties of silica gel-immobilized pyrimidine derivative

5-Benzylidene-2-thiobarbituric acid (BzTBA), a pyrimidine derivative, was used to modify the surface of silica gel-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (Si-Cl) via chemical immobilization to produce a new pyrimidine silica phase (Si-BzTBA). Identification of the surface modification was characterized and performed on the basis of infrared as well as elemental analysis. Thermal desorption method was found to give 0.129-0.143 mmol g(-1) as surface coverage values. Metal sorption properties of Si-BzTBA were also studied and the evaluated results refer to the high metal sorption of Si-BzTBA for copper(II), mercury(II), cadmium(II), and lead(II) with the same order. These four Si-BzTBA-metal complexes were also synthesized and the stoichiometric ratios were identified as 1:1 except lead complex was found to give a 1:2 ratio. Electron impact-mass spectrometric analysis (EI-MS) with 70 eV ionization energy was used as a potential thermal method for the confirmation of surface modification of Si-BzTBA and its metal complexes based on fragmentation elucidation of thermally desorbed ion peaks. The EI-MS of Si-BzTBA was found to show several characteristic fragment ion peaks that are directly related to the chemical binding of BzTBA to SiCl phase. Differential scanning calorimetry study (DSC) was also performed to evaluate the various kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of thermal degradation processes and have been enumerated. The results of EI-MS and DSC are very similar in many respects.

Malondialdehyde levels in sperm and seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic and its relationship with semen parameters

BACKGROUND

Toxic lipid peroxides are known to cause various impairments of sperm cells and may play a major role in the etiology of male infertility. We determined the level of lipid peroxidation as indicated by malondialdehyde (MDA) in the spermatozoa and seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic males.

METHODS

MDA of spermatozoa and seminal plasma was determined in 35 asthenozoospermic and 15 normozoospermic men by spectrofluorometry. Semen analysis was done according to the WHO standard.

RESULTS

MDA concentration in the spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic was significantly higher than in normozoospermic males (0.14+/-0.059 and 0.09+/-0.04 nmol/10 x 10(6) spermatozoa respectively). The mean+/-S.D. MDA value in the seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic were 1.35+/-0.42 and 1.2+/-0.3 nmol/ml seminal plasma respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Lipid peroxidation has a deleterious effect on the semen quality and MDA is an index of lipid peroxidation which may be a diagnostic tool for the analysis of infertility in the asthenozoospermic patients.