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Associations between biochemical components of human semen with seminal conditions
No full textThe aim of the study was to assess whether abnormal levels of seminal biochemical components could be associated with semen alterations and infertility. In this study, 92 human ejaculates from selected men were analyzed. Albumin, estradiol, ferritin, total proteins (TP), folic acid (FA), vitamin B12, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase were evaluated. Semen parameters and biochemical components of the 92 samples were correlated bySpearman’s rho coefficient. Albumin showed a negative correlation with sperm progressive motility and vitality (P < 0.05), CK with sperm concentration and vitality (P < 0.05), ferritin with sperm morphology (P < 0.05). FA negatively correlated with sperm concentration (P < 0.05) and GGT with sperm motility (P < 0.05). The values of biochemical components were compared for each semen parameters (concentration, motility, morphology, vitality) in samples ≤5th percentile with those >5th percentile and in patients with/without leukocytospermia, presence/absence of germ cells, increased/normal viscosity by Mann Whitney U test. The albumin (P < 0.001) and TP (P < 0.05) levels and the GGT activity (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with sperm motility ≤5th percentile. Patients with sperm vitality ≤5th percentile showed increased albumin concentration (P < 0.01) and the CK activity (P < 0.001). The presence of germ cells in semen was concomitant with high values of ferritin (P < 0.01); the ALP activity (P < 0.01) and FA level (P < 0.001) were decreased in hyperviscous semen. The FA and estradiol levels were significantly decreased in the smoker group compared to those measured in the non-smoker group. Subjects were grouped in infertile patients and men with unknown reproductive potential. Infertile patients albumin and ferritin were significantly increased (P < 0.05). This study suggests that some biochemical components may be associated with human seminal pathological conditions. Abbreviations: ALP: alkaline phosphatase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; GGT: γ-glutamyl transferase; CK: creatine kinase; ACP: acid phosphatase; ALB: albumin; TP: total proteins; FERR: ferritin, E: estradiol; FOL: folic acid; B12: vitamin B12; FSH: follicle stimulating hormone; LH: luteinizing hormone; T: testosterone; BMI: body mass index; WHO: World Health Organization
Cytosolic phospholipase A2 and F2 isoprostanes are involved in semen quality and human infertility-A study on leucocytospermia, varicocele and idiopathic infertility
No full textPhospholipase A2 (PLA2 ) is involved in eicosanoid release, and F2 -isoprostanes (F2 -IsoPs), as free radical-generated eicosanoids released by PLA2 , are indicators of oxidative stress in different human conditions. This study investigated the interplay between cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2 ), F2 -IsoPs and sperm features in male infertility, when the involvement of oxidative stress has been reported. Semen evaluation was performed following WHO guidelines, sperm ultrastructure was detected by transmission electron microscopy indicating a fertility index, and the percentages of sperm immaturity, apoptosis and necrosis. In sperm cells and seminal plasma, cPLA2 levels were determined by immunological method, whereas F2 -IsoPs by mass spectrometry. Sperm concentration, morphology, vitality and fertility index values were significantly lower in infertile groups compared with fertile men. An increase in sperm apoptosis and necrosis (p < .01), apoptosis (p < .01) and immaturity (p < .001) was detected in leucocytospermia, idiopathic infertility and varicocele, respectively. Seminal cPLA2 showed the highest value in varicocele group (p < .05), whereas seminal F2 -IsoPs increased in varicocele (p < .001) and leucocytospermia (p < .05) groups. In the whole population, F2 -IsoP and cPLA2 levels were positively correlated (p < .05). On the contrary, F2 -IsoPs and cPLA2 were not significantly different when investigated in sperm cells. Our data indicate that fatty acid oxidation/metabolism plays a role in different male reproductive pathological conditions
Quercetin and rutin: effects of two flavonoids on induced oxidative stress in human ejaculated sperm
No full textQuercetin (Q) and rutin (R) are two natural flavonoids with antioxidant properties. We evaluated the toxicity of
Q and R at 20μM, 30μM, 50μM, 100μM, 200μM, 400μM in swim up selected human sperm. The antioxidant activity (Q and
R 20μM and 30μM) was tested on lipid peroxidation (LPO) induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide in human sperm. LPO was
evaluated using the C11-BODIPY581/591 probe and sperm structural damages were assessed by transmission electron microscopy
in samples incubated with and without Q and R. A significant dose dependent toxic effect was observed for both
compounds on sperm viability (Q and R: r= -0.98 P<0.001), on sperm progressive motility (Q: r=-0.98, R: r=-0.97; P<0.001),
and on non progressive motility (Q; r=-0.58, P<0.01; R: r=-0.50, P<0.05). Both flavonoids, used at 20μM and 30μM, showed
antioxidant properties on LPO induced in human sperm and a general protective effect against ultrastructural damages of
LPO. In conclusion, we observed that Q exhibited a little higher toxicity than R; on the other hand R is little low protective
on induced LPO. Our preliminary results demonstrated the scavenger properties of these flavonoids in vitro on human sperm.
Keywords: human sperm, lipid peroxidation, quercetin, rutin, TE
Grading abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture risk
No full textBACKGROU ND: The aim of this paper was to develop a scoring system to grade the risk of rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA ) in individual patients. METHODS: Computed tomography angiography of an AAA were coupled with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) evaluation performed using open source software (ElmerSolver, Institute of Technology, Espoo, Finland). CFD criteria studied were: Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI ), time averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS ) and residence relative time (RR T) on both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) models. AAA rupture predictors were analyzed and a scoring system was generated using Arabic numerals for all significant variables in order to grade the individual patient risk of rupture. RESUL TS: There were 143 patients examined. Ninety-one AAA s (18 ruptured AAA s), and 52 had a non-aneurysmal aorta. The 2D OSI was the best CFD criterion following multivariate analysis and RO C curves evaluation. An AAA was deemed respectively at low, moderate, or high risk of rupture, according to whether the risk score was defined as AAA I (total score 6.5). The only protective factor was found in diabetes (OR =0.775; CI: 0.665-0.902). CONCLUSIO NS: The Florence Risk Score for AAA rupture based on this report may be a useful tool to predict AAA rupture. A prospective multicenter registry will need to confirm its validity
In vitro effect of gold and silver nanoparticles on human spermatozoa
No full textThe cytotoxicity of Au/Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on human spermatozoa was investigated in vitro. Semen from donors were incubated (37 °C, 60′–120′) with 30, 60, 125, 250 and 500 lM Au/Ag-NPs. Sperm motility was evaluated following WHO guidelines; sperm viability was assessed with eosin Y test. Au-NPs were characterised and localised with field emission gun-based scanning transmission electron microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Both tested NPs exerted a significant dose-dependent effect on motility and viability of human spermatozoa (P < 0.001). Ag-NPs seem to show a slightly elevated toxicity although not significant (P > 0.05). Au-NPs were localised in spermatozoa, whereas Ag-NPs were undetectable. In conclusion, Au-NPs and Ag-NPs do not appear to be harmful for human spermatozoa up to high concentrations (250–500 lM) that are probably difficult to reach in vivo. It is mandatory to explore the genotoxic effect of NPs in germ cells
Effect of quercetin, rutin, naringenin and epicatechin on lipid peroxidation induced in human sperm
No full textQuercetin, rutin, naringenin, epicatechin are flavonoids with diverse properties, including antioxidant potential. We evaluated, in vitro, the cytotoxicity of these flavonoids (20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 400μM) in swim-up selected human sperm. Antioxidant activity was tested against tert-butylhydroperoxide induced lipid peroxidation using a C11-BODIPY581/591 probe and transmission electron microscopy. A significant concentration-dependent effect on sperm viability (P<0.001) and motility (P<0.001) was observed. Lipid peroxidation was decreased in samples treated with 30μM quercetin (P<0.01) and 30μM rutin (P<0.05) versus samples incubated with tert-butylhydroperoxide alone. Naringenin (50-100μM) showed a low protective effect and epicatechin (200μM) was not efficacious. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the protective action of rutin and in particular quercetin on damages induced by lipid peroxidation. These results underlined the antioxidant properties of quercetin and rutin. A possible role of these compounds in the supplementation of media used during semen handling warrants attention and further studies. © 2012 Elsevier Inc
Realtime elastosonography of the penis in patients with Peyronie's disease
Get PDFObjective: To evaluate the performance of real time elastosonography (RTE) in the iden- tification of different types of penile lesions in patients with Peyronie’s disease. Materials and methods: Seventy four consecutive patients with complaints of Peyronie’s disease underwent B-Mode ultrasonography (US) and RTE of the penis in the same sit- ting. In each patient all sequences of elastosonography and B-Mode US were recorded and
compared to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the new imaging technique.
Results: B-Mode US detected penile plaques in 64 patients (86.41%) and elastosonography con- firmed these data. In the remaining 10 patients elastosonography documented, in five of them, areas of reducing elasticity suggesting the presence of initial fibrosis. Cohen’s K was used to eval- uate the discordances between B-Mode US and Elastosonography scan. A p value 30°, and the penile plaque evalua- tions were completely concordant.
Conclusions: RTE is a simple, non invasive, rapid complementary imaging technique that may improve the accuracy of B-Mode US in detecting penile lesions in patients with Peyronie’s disease
Sperm Parameters and Semen Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines in Helicobacter pylori-infected Men
Get PDFOBJECTIVE To explore the relationships between seminal interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) with semen parameters, sperm apoptosis, and necrosis in subjects infected by Helicobacter pylori (HP) expressing and not expressing CagA.
METHODS In 109 selected patients, HP infection and seminal levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Western blotting was used to detect antibodies to CagA. Semen parameters were determined following World Health Organization guidelines and sperm apoptosis and necrosis by annexin V and propidium iodide assay.
RESULTS Twenty-eight subjects were infected by HP (HP+); among them, 12 were CagA seropositive (CagA+) and 16 were negative (CagA-). Eighty-one men were HP seronegative (HP-). Semen TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations were increased in HP+ vs HP- groups (TNF-alpha: 41 pg/mL vs 27 pg/mL; IL-6: 11 pg/mL vs 5 pg/mL; P < .01). In comparison to the HP- group, CagA+ group showed reduced sperm motility (24% vs 32% motile sperm; P < .05), enhanced necrosis (33.5% vs 21% necrotic sperm; P < .05), and increased cytokines levels (TNF-alpha: 46 pg/mL vs 27 pg/mL; P < .01; IL-6: 17.5 pg/mL vs 5 pg/mL; P < .01). Sperm motility of CagA+ group was lower vs CagA- group (24% vs 36.5% motile sperm; P < .05). Both IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels positively correlated with the percentage of necrotic sperm (P < .001).
CONCLUSION CagA+ HP infection increases semen levels of inflammatory cytokines, which may reduce sperm motility and determine sperm damage and contribute to reduce the reproductive potential in men
Effect of Quercetin-loaded liposomes on induced oxidative stress in human spermatozoa
Get PDFA strategy to circumvent the poor polyphenols bioavailability is to load these compounds into liposomes. We evaluated the in vitro effects of quercetin (Q) and Q-loaded liposomes (QLL, 30, 50, 100 μM) on motility, viability and chromatin integrity of swim-up selected human sperm. Antioxidant power was assayed against tert-butylhydroperoxide induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) using C11-BODIPY581/591 fluorescent probe and transmission electron microscopy. QLL showed decreased toxicity for sperm motility and viability and increased DNA damage compared to Q. The percentage of sperm with fluorescence, marker of LPO, was decreased in samples incubated with Q vs QLL (P < 0.001). The ultrastructure of acrosomes and membranes was preserved with Q 30/100 μM, whereas QLL did not prevent membrane injury.Q alone appeared more effective than Q incorporated into liposomes; however liposomes could be considered as carriers that may convey different compounds inside sperm; they may therefore represent a field of research rich of many applications
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