Andrology: Glutathione treatment of dyspermia: effect on the lipoperoxidation process

Abstract

We recently introduced reduced glutathione into the therapeutic protocols in some selected cases of dyspermia. This therapy improved semen quality both in a pilot follow-up study and in a double-blind cross-over trial. This improvement was seen in patients with varicocele and germ-free genital tract inflammation, two pathologies in which production of reactive oxygen species or other toxic compounds could have a pathogenic role. Polyunsaturated fatty acids of phospholipids play a major role in membrane constitution and function and are one of the main targets of the lipoperoxidative process. Therefore, to understand the therapeutic action of reduced glutathione, we selected infertile patients and studied the modifications produced by the therapy in seminal parameters, biochemical sperm membrane parameters, and the pattern of fatty acids of phospholipids from blood serum and red blood cell membranes (a model widely accepted as representative of general cell membrane status). The results showed an improvement in both sperm parameters and cell membrane characteristics. This study suggests that biochemical modifications in membrane constitution could explain the seminal results of glutathione therapy. On the other hand, it seems likely that only subjects with systemic membrane disturbances associated with andrological pathologies express this membrane damage in spermatozoa, resulting in dyspermia. This sperm alteration can be partially reversed by glutathione therapy if the structural cell membrane damage is not too severe.

Effect of short term supplementation of tomatoes on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in type-II diabetes

“…In this study lycopene supplementation also increased the levels of reduced Glutathione, the most important antioxidant metabolite that plays an important role in maintaining good levels of Glutathione peroxidase activity which is the main enzyme involved in removing the H 2 O 2 generated from dismutation of superoxide anions by Super Oxide Dismutase. GSH is also the co-factor of several reducing enzymes such as dehydroascorbate reductase and endoperoxide isomerase (19). From the above results it is proved that tomato lycopene also reduces the lipid peroxidation rate by acting as a good chain breaking antioxidant, which reacts with peroxy radicals formed in propagation phase of lipid peroxidation to form carbon centered radical, which reacts readily and reversibly with oxygen to form a new chain -carrying peroxyl radicals which are highly stable forms than ROS.…”

The role of antioxidant therapy in the treatment of male infertility: an overview

“…The second, conducted the following year on 10 infertile men with the same characteristics, led to similar results, although a significant increase in sperm concentration was also found. 56,57 NAC NAC is a precursor of GSH and has thus been used as an antioxidant in several studies and trials.…”

Lipoperoxidation damage of spermatozoa polyunsaturated fatty acids PUFA scavenger mechanisms and possible scavenger therapies

“…By means of combined gas chromatography mass spectrometry (29) we studied the PUFA membrane constitution in human ejaculated spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were examined after washing.…”