Biochemical analysis of the sperm and infertility

Effects of high serum uric acid levels on oxidative stress levels and semen parameters in male infertile patients

This study is to investigate the effect of high serum uric acid (UA) level on oxidative stress and semen quality of male infertility patients.A cohort of 654 male individuals aged between 20 and 45 years old were included in this study, and their semen and venous blood samples were collected. The serum UA, blood glucose, blood lipids, and hormone levels were determined by chemiluminescence method. The changes in inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, adipokines, and biochemical indices in seminal plasma were determined by ELISA. Organic acids in seminal plasma were detected with reversed-phase ultra high performance liquid chromatography.Compared with the control group, the amount of semen and the total number of sperm in the hyperuricemia group significantly reduced (P < .05). Semen volume decreased with the increase of serum UA level, and the total number of sperm also decreased. The level of luteinizing hormone increased and the level of testosterone decreased in the hyperuricemia group. The concentration of superoxide dismutase decreased and the concentration of endothelin increased in the hyperuricemia group (P < .05). The concentration of seminal plasma α-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase in the hyperuricemia group decreased significantly (P < .05). Compared with the control group, the contents of ascorbic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, and UA in the seminal plasma were significantly reduced in the hyperuricemia group (P < .05).Blood UA level may become a new risk predictor of semen quality in infertile men.

DNA fragmentation of human sperm can be detected by ligation-mediated real-time polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether ligation-mediated real-time polymerase chain reaction (LM-RT-PCR), which combines LM-PCR, and RT-PCR, can detect sperm DNA fragmentation (DF) in human semen samples.

DESIGN

Three-way comparison of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD), and LM-RT-PCR for detecting sperm DNA fragmentation.

SETTING

University hospital-based research laboratory.

PATIENT(S)

Twenty-five men presenting at an infertility clinic.

INTERVENTION(S)

Basic analysis of sperm concentration, motility, vitality, and morphology, with each semen sample equally divided into three aliquots that were evaluated for fragmentation using TUNEL, SCD, and LM-RT-PCR assays.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

In TUNEL and SCD assays, counts of the number of sperm with tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) red signals or no halo; in LM-RT-PCR results, evaluation of the threshold cycles (Ct) and relative fluorescence unit (RFU) values.

RESULT(S)

The median percentage of sperm with positive results for fragmentation in the TUNEL and SCD assays were 20.5% and 20.7%, respectively. To compare the accuracy of the TUNEL, SCD, and LM-RT-PCR assays, we divided the semen samples into two groups according to the TUNEL results: low and high percentage of sperm fragmentation. In the LM-RT-PCR results, the values of the cycles of threshold (Ct) and relative fluorescence unit (RFU) statistically significantly differed between the low and high percentage of sperm fragmentation groups. Comparisons among the TUNEL, SCD, and LM-RT-PCR assays revealed that the correlation patterns according to DNA fragmentation were similar in both the groups with high and low percentage of DNA fragmentation. Our morphologic analysis indicated that the fragmentation of sperm DNA did not appear to influence sperm morphology.

CONCLUSION(S)

These results indicate that the LM-RT-PCR technique is another useful tool for detecting DNA fragmentation, a parameter of sperm quality in human semen alone or combined with TUNEL or SCD assays.

Physical analysis of ejaculate to evaluate the secretory activity of the seminal vesicles and prostate

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether analysis of the physical properties of ejaculate also has any diagnostic potential for evaluating the function of these accessory sex glands. Diverse normal and abnormal states of coagulation, liquefaction, volume, viscosity and pH were studied with regard to the levels of biochemical markers of the seminal vesicles (fructose and inorganic phosphorus) and prostate (calcium, zinc and acid phosphatase). Fructose and inorganic phosphorus were significantly decreased in samples with absent or poor coagulation (p<0.001), volume < 2.0 mL (p=0.009 and p<0.001, respectively), hypoviscosity (p=0.013 and p<0.001), hyperviscosity (p=0.006 and p<0.001) and pH < or = 7.1 (p=0.018 and p<0.001). Also, fructose and inorganic phosphorus were significantly decreased in samples with liquefaction > 120 min (p=0.003) and pH > 8.0 (p<0.001), respectively. Calcium, zinc and acid phosphatase activity were significantly increased in samples with absent or poor coagulation (p<0.001), and significantly decreased in samples with volume > 5.0 mL (p=0.007, p=0.034 and p=0.011) and pH > 8.0 (p<0.001). Also, calcium and zinc were significantly increased in hypoviscous samples (p=0.012 and p=0.003), whereas the zinc concentration was significantly lower in hyperviscous samples (p=0.026). Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, pH showed the highest predictive power to identify prostate dysfunction (83.6%) and simultaneous prostate and seminal vesicle dysfunction (98.8%). Physical analysis of ejaculate was also found to be clinically useful for evaluating the secretory activity of the seminal vesicles and prostate. Abnormal coagulation, liquefaction, volume, viscosity and pH strongly suggest gland dysfunction.

Semen analysis in laboratory practice: an overview of routine tests

Semen analysis is a basic step in the investigation of several disturbances affecting the male genital tract. Analysis of seminal parameters provides important clinical information on the spermatogenesis and functional competence of spermatozoa, as well as on the secretory pattern of the accessory genital glands. Semen analysis is particularly useful in the evaluation of couples requiring fertility investigation (to detect genital infections and pathologies) and in verifying the influence of environmental factors, drugs, lifestyle, chemical products, and professional activities on several diseases affecting male reproductive health. Measure of semen quality is of substantial interest for diagnoses in clinical urology, andrology, and gynecology. Currently, basic requirements for semen analysis are standardized by World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines that describe several procedures for an objective evaluation of the semen quality with diagnostic purposes. These guidelines include: parameters for the physical and biochemical evaluation of semen; parameters for the analysis of sperm characteristics; and other seminal parameters that can be easily adopted in any laboratory. This report summarizes current concepts on semen analysis and the significance of the seminal parameters for reaching a diagnosis based on the procedures recommended by WHO guidelines.