The measurement of hyaluronidase activity in human spermatozoa by substrate slide assay and its clinical application

D-Limonene Alleviates Oxidative Stress Injury of the Testis Induced by Arsenic in Rat

Long-term exposure to arsenic can lead to testicular damage and lower sperm quality in males, which is mediated by increased arsenic-induced oxidative stress and other damage mechanisms. D-Limonene, which is rich in oranges, lemons, oranges, grapes and other natural fruits, can relieve doxorubicin (DOX)-induced kidney injury and CCL4-induced cardiac toxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory response. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of D-limonene motivate us to further explore whether it can reduce arsenic-induced testicular injury. To verify this scientific hypothesis, testicular pathology, testicular oxidative stress levels and sperm motility were determined after intervention with D-limonene in rats chronically exposed to arsenic. As expected, long-term arsenic exposure caused testicular tissue structure disturbances, increased levels of oxidative stress, and decreased sperm activation, all of which were significantly inhibited due to treatment with D-limonene. In conclusion, our data reveal a previously unproven beneficial effect of D-limonene, namely that D-limonene can inhibit arsenic-induced testicular injury, and also provide theoretical and experimental basis for the application of D-limonene in the treatment of arsenic-induced testicular injury.

Human sperm acrosome function assays are predictive of fertilization rate in vitro: a retrospective cohort study and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether acrosome function scoring-including acrosomal enzyme (AE) levels and acrosome reaction (AR) results-can predict fertilization rate in vitro.

METHODS

We examined the predictive value of acrosomal enzymes (AE) determined by spectrophotometry/N-α-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide for fertilization rate (FR) in vitro in a retrospective cohort study of 737 infertile couples undergoing IVF therapy. Additionally, a meta-analysis was done for prospective cohort or case-control studies; the following summary measures were reported to expand upon the findings: pooled spearman correlation coefficient (Rs), standardized mean difference (SMD), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic score (DS), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Lower AE levels determined by spectrophotometry with a cut-off value of <25μIU/10⁶ spermatozoa were predictive of total fertilization failure (TFF) with moderate SEN (88.23%) and low SPE (16.50%). On meta-analysis, a total of 44 unique articles were selected, but given the multiple techniques described there was a total of 67 total datasets extracted from these 44 articles, comprising 5356 infertile couples undergoing IVF therapy. The AE levels or induced AR% was positively correlated with FR (Rs = 0.38, SMD = 0.79; Rs = 0.40, SMD = 0.86, respectively). Lower AE levels or induced AR% was predictive of lower fertilization rate with moderate accuracy (AUC = 0.78, AUC = 0.84, respectively); this was accompanied by low SEN/moderate SPE (0.57/0.85), moderate SEN/moderate SPE (0.79/0.87), respectively. For AE assay, the diagnostic performance in Asia (Rs = 0.24, SMD = 0.50) was inferior to that in North America (Rs = 0.54, SMD = 0.81) and Europe (Rs = 0.46, SMD = 0.92). Cryopreserved spermatozoa (SMD = 0.20, P = 0.204) were inferior to fresh spermatozoa (SMD = 0.89, P <  0.001). Sperm preparation yielded inferior results as compared to no preparation; spermatozoa after swim up were weak relevant (Rs = 0.27, P = 0.044); and there was no correlation for spermatozoa after a discontinuous gradient (SMD = 1.07, P >  0.05). Lower AE levels determined by fluorometry or substrate assay were used for predicting lower FR with low sensitivity and high specificity; the spectrophotometry assay had an uncertain predictive value. For induced AR assay, the diagnostic performance in the other areas was inferior to that in Africa (Rs = 0.65, SMD = 1.86). No preparation or double preparation yielded inferior results as compared to one preparation (Rs = 0.41); discontinuous gradient (Rs = 0.17, SMD = 0.47) was inferior to swim up (Rs =0.65, SMD = 1.51). Nonphysiological triggers (SMD = 0.81) did not differ from physiological triggers (SMD = 0.95) in general; ZP (Rs = 0.63) or mannose (Rs = 0.59) was superior to other physiological or nonphysiological triggers; and there was no correlation for human follicle fluid, progesterone, cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-phosphate analogue and phorbol ester-BSA-GlcNAc Neoglycoproteins with N-acetylglucosamine residues. Lower induced AR% determined by indirect immunofluorescence, direct immunofluorescence with lection, or triple stain was used for predicting lower FR, with moderate sensitivity/high specificity, moderate sensitivity/high specificity, or high sensitivity/low specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the correlation between acrosome function scoring and FR was significant, the assays were neither highly sensitive nor specific. Additionally, the diagnostic performance showed regional effects as well as an effect of the sperm preparation or assay method. More studies of multicenter, large-scale, careful design and synthesizing multiple sperm functional assays and oocyte quality assays are still needed in clinical settings to better predict fertilization outcome in IVF.

Effects of levamisole on hyaluronidase activity and sperm characteristics in rams

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of levamisole on sperm characteristics and hyaluronidase activity of blood serum and semen. For this purpose, 12 Akkaraman rams (2-3 years old) were used. Levamisole hydrochloride was administered orally at a dose of 7.5mg/kg body weights once daily for 2 days. Serum and semen samples were collected from the rams at post-treatment 1, 2, 4, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 216, 288 and 384 h and examined for sperm characteristics and hyaluronidase activity. The results showed that the use of levamisole caused significant (P < 0.01) increase in serum hyaluronidase activity at all times except the 72 h, and in semen hyaluronidase activity at 1, 2, 4, 24, 72, 96 and 120 h compared to the control group. In addition, the levamisole caused significant (P < 0.05) decreases in semen volume, sperm motility, concentration and total sperm number at all times. There was no correlation between semen hyaluronidase activity and the sperm characteristics. In conclusion, levamisole did not have any deleterious effect on hyaluronidase enzyme. However, the use of this drug in rams during the breeding season is harmful due to the decrease of sperm characteristics.

The effects of diminazene aceturate and ceftriaxone on ram sperm

Effects of diminazene aceturate and ceftriaxone disodium were evaluated on sperm quality of rams. Daily intramuscular injections of diminazene (6 mg/kg) or ceftriaxone (28.5 mg/kg) were given to each of seven Akkaraman rams assigned per drug for two days. Semen samples were collected from the rams at post-treatment 1, 4, 24, 48, 72, 144, 288 and 336 h and examined for sperm characteristics and hyaluronidase activity. Results showed that use of ceftriaxone and diminazene caused significant (P<0.01) decreases in sperm concentration, volume and motility compared to control group within 288 h post-treatment. In addition, hyaluronidase activity increased significantly (P<0.01) in semen of rams treated with ceftriaxone while remained unchanged in those received diminazene. In conclusion, diminazene aceturate and ceftriaxone disodium did not have any deleterious effect on hyaluronidase enzyme. However, both drugs caused impairment of sperm in rams during the 288 h.

The effects of lincomycin-spectinomycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim on hyaluronidase activities and sperm characteristics of rams

The effects of lincomycin-spectinomycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim combinations on the hyaluronidase enzyme of serum and semen and on sperm characteristics in rams were determined. Thirthy-two Akkaraman rams were used. The rams were randomly divided into four groups. Group A and group B were determined as control groups of group C (lincomycin-spectinomycin) and D (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim), respectively. Combinations of lincomycin-spectinomycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim were administered at doses of 15 mg.kg(-1) intramuscularly and 12 mg.kg(-1) body weights orally, respectively. Blood and semen samples were collected at 4, 12, 24, 48, 72, 192 and 384 hr. Semen hyaluronidase activities of rams in group C increased significantly (p<0.001, <0.05) compared with the control group at 24 and 48 hr, respectively. Semen hyaluronidase activities in group D rams also increased significantly (p<0.001) in comparison with the control group at all times except 72 and 384 hr. Serum hyaluronidase activities increased significantly (p<0.01, <0.001) at 24 and 48 hr after treatment of lincomycin-spectinomycin. Additionally, significant (p<0.05, <0.001) increases were detected in the serum hyaluronidase activities of group D at 48 and 72 hr, respectively. No significant correlation was found between serum and semen hyaluronidase activities. Furthermore, significant increases (p<0.05) were observed in the percentages of motile sperm in the rams of group C and D compared with the control groups. The values of sperm concentration and total number of sperm in group C and D rams decreased significantly (p<0.001) in comparison with control groups. No significant correlations were found between the semen hyaluronidase activities and sperm characteristics. In conclusion, these findings show that the combinations of lincomycin-spectinomycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim do not have any harmful effects on hyaluronidase activities and sperm motility. However, the use of both antibiotic combinations in breeding rams during the ramming season is not advisable due to the decrease of sperm concentration.

Effects of acetylsalicylic acid and metamizol on hyaluronidase activity and sperm characteristics in rams

The effects of acetylsalicylic acid and metamizol on hyaluronidase activity of semen and sperm characteristics in rams were investigated. Acetylsalicylic acid and metamizol at the doses of 75 and 50 mg/kg were administered to the rams, respectively and then semen samples were taken at 1, 2, 4, 24, 48, 96, 120 and 144 h. The hyaluronidase activities of semen in rams treated with acetylsalicylic acid and metamizol were determined to increase significantly (P<0.001) when compared with control groups at all times. Additionally, the spermatozoa motilities in both groups were measured to increase significantly (P<0.05) when compared with control group. Furthermore, there were significant (P<0.01, <0.05) decreases in the sperm concentrations and semen volumes of rams treated with acetylsalicylic acid and metamizol at all times, respectively. In conclusion, although the use of acetylsalicylic acid and metamizol cause an increase in the hyaluronidase activities and spermatozoa motilities, these drugs decrease the sperm concentrations and semen volumes along 6 days. For these reason, the use of these drugs in breeding rams during ramming season is not suitable.

Tests of human sperm function and fertilization in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To review recent studies on the development of new tests of human sperm function and evaluation of which sperm characteristics are most important for fertilization in vitro by logistic regression analysis.

STUDY SELECTION

Recent studies on the relationship between putative and new tests of human sperm function and fertility in vitro or in vivo are discussed in this review. Some physiological and technical aspects are included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Fertilization rates in vitro and sperm tests including standard semen analysis, improved morphology assessment, objective assessment of sperm motility and movement characteristics, nuclear maturity, hypo-osmotic swelling, the acrosome and the acrosome reaction, acrosin activity, human sperm-hamster oocyte penetration assay, and sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) and sperm-oolemma binding.

RESULTS

The percentages of sperm with normal morphology and a normal intact acrosome, mean linearity, and the number of sperm binding to the ZP were highly significant related to fertilization rates in vitro. Other sperm tests evaluated usually provided no additional information about fertilization rates. The human ZP is highly selective for binding of morphologically normal sperm. Acrosome-reacted human sperm have little or no ability to bind to the ZP.

CONCLUSION

Results of in vitro fertilization can be used to evaluate tests of human sperm function. Logistic regression analysis is a powerful method for determining which groups of sperm characteristics are independently related to fertilization rates. Normal morphology, linearity, acrosome status, and sperm-ZP binding are the most important characteristics for fertilization in vitro.