Effect of nerve growth factor on sperm quality in asthenozoosprmic men during cryopreservation

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough routinely used in assisted reproductive technology, human sperm cryopreservation is not an entirely successful procedure. This study determined the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) supplementation of cryopreservation medium on post-thaw viability, motility, intracellular nitric oxide (NO) concentration, and DNA fragmentation of human spermatozoa in asthenozoospermic men.MethodsSemen samples were collected from 25 asthenozoosprmic men and divided into the following groups (n = 5/group): fresh semen (control); frozen-thawed semen without treatment; frozen-thawed semen with NGF treatment (0.5, 1, and 5 ng/ml). Prior to dividing the asthenozoospermic samples, 200 μl of each sample was collected for NGF content assessment by ELISA and then compared with normozoospermic semen samples (25 normozoospermic men). Sperm motility and viability were assessed according to WHO criteria. Furthermore, intracellular nitric oxide and DNA fragmentation were evaluated by Flow Cytometry.ResultsNGF content was significantly higher in normozoospermic compared with asthenozoospermic men. Cryopreservation of asthenozoospermic semen samples significantly decreased sperm viability and motility, and increased intracellular nitric oxide concentration and DNA damage (p < 0.01). In asthenozoospermic frozen–thawed samples treated with 0.5 ng/ml exogenous NGF, we observed a significantly increased viability, motility, and decreased DNA fragmentation (p < 0.05), but intracellular nitric oxide concentration was not reduced. The other high doses (1 and 5 ng/ml) had no significant effect on the variables.ConclusionSupplementation with exogenous NGF could have partial and limited protective effect during cryopreservation of human spermatozoa but further research is needed to evaluate the possible clinical applications.

Clinical and neonatal outcomes of intrauterine insemination with frozen donor sperm

“…However, cryopreservation of semen is usually associated with diminished motility, viability, and DNA damage of the sperm (McLaughlin et al 1992;Kalthur et al 2008). In recent years, the recovery results of frozen sperm have improved with the development of cryopreservation technology (Li et al 2010;Valcarce et al 2013;Saeednia et al 2016)). However, most studies have focused on clinical pregnancies resulting from frozen donor sperm (Chen et al 2012;Zarek et al 2014;Kop et al 2015;Guan et al 2016).…”

Correlation of nerve growth factor with antioxidants and sperm parameters among Iraqi infertile males

“…The first indication of a measured NGF content in human exposed that the level of NGF protein in seminal plasma gained from oligoasthenozoospermic and asthenozoospermic was lower in comparison to fertile semen although these differences were not statistically significant . Parallel to the study above, a work is done by Saeednia et al in 2016 showed that the seminal NGF concentration was significantly higher (Pvalue <0.05) in normozoospermic compared with asthenozoospermic men (Saeednia et al, 2016). The decrease in serum and seminal NGF levels in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men may have a substantial part in the aetiology of sperm dysfunction.…”

Sperm Cryopreservation: Principles and Biology

“…Other additives that are reported to protect sperm against damage include antioxidants which primarily work to neutralize ROS generated during the cryopreservation process and thus improve post-thaw sperm function. The commonly employed antioxidants include vitamin E, vitamin C, catalase, l-carnitine, biotin, butylated hydroxytoluene, taurine, hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, honey, and nerve growth factor [49][50][51][52][53]. Antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins are another group of cryoprotective supplements that can be employed in sperm freezing that help to maintain the plasma membrane integrity by stabilizing the phospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids [50].…”