Discrimination of human semen specimens by NMR data, sperm parameters, and statistical analysis

Abstract

Human seminal fluid is a complex mixture of secretions originated from epididymis and the male accessory sex glands. It contains a variety of both inorganic and organic components, among which proteins are a major part of the high molecular-mass substances. In this study, 83 human seminal plasma samples were analyzed using a combined Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach to discriminate patients in relation to semen characteristics and/or conditions affecting the fertility status. Results showed a discrimination between patients with leukocytospermia and with the concomitant presence of varicocele/ex varicocele and leukocytospermia. Patients with testicular cancer, necrozoospermia, and azoospermia were separated from the other patient clusters. In addition, a differentiation of semen quality was also possible. This study represents to first use of sperm parameters together with NMR data as variables in the PCA analysis. Furthermore, this methodology allows the identification of the metabolites which play the most important role in identifying differences among human seminal plasma samples.

Metabolomics analysis of seminal plasma in patients with idiopathic Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia using high‐resolution NMR spectroscopy

“…used NMR data to discriminate semen samples from patients with leukocytospermia and with the concomitant presence of varicocoele/ex varicocoele and leukocytospermia. They found glycerophosphocholine (GPC), choline, phenylalanine, citrate, lactate, histidine, and uridine were the most predictive metabolites associated with abnormal sperm parameters (Bonechi et al ., ).…”

“…A recent study by Bonechi et al used NMR data to discriminate semen samples from patients with leukocytospermia and with the concomitant presence of varicocoele/ex varicocoele and leukocytospermia. They found glycerophosphocholine (GPC), choline, phenylalanine, citrate, lactate, histidine, and uridine were the most predictive metabolites associated with abnormal sperm parameters (Bonechi et al, 2015). A literature review of NMR-based seminal fluid analysis studies suggests that, based on the pathophysiological factors of different diseases, the metabolite profile of seminal fluid may exhibit differences.…”

“…Bruker TopSpin version 3.2.7 software was used for the processing of all the resulting NMR data. The investigated seminal plasma metabolites were determined by using various resources and the published literature (Bonechi et al, 2015;Zhang et al, 2015).…”

1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Pig Seminal Plasma Reveals Intra-Ejaculate Variation in Metabolites

“…In this regard, the study of SP components is gaining interest. In both men [32,33,[36][37][38][39] and bulls [40][41][42], SP metabolites have been linked to sperm function, pointing at a possible role as markers of sperm quality and/or fertility. These studies evidence that an in-depth metabolomic profile of SP could provide a valuable list of potential sperm quality and fertility biomarkers for AI-boars.…”

Age-dependent changes in metabolic profile of turkey spermatozoa as assessed by NMR analysis

“…Among the analytical methods applied in metabolite characterization, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is one of the most suitable approach since it allows detection and quantification of a wide range of metabolites simultaneously with a high analytical precision. NMR based approach has already found applications in the analysis of biological fluids of mammals [ 18 , 19 ], and human [ 20 , 21 ].…”