Inverse correlation between reactive oxygen species in unwashed semen and sperm motion parameters as measured by a computer-assisted semen analyzer

Abstract

This study investigated the correlation between sperm motion parameters obtained by a computer-assisted semen analyzer and levels of reactive oxygen species in unwashed semen. In total, 847 patients, except for azoospermic patients were investigated. At the time of each patient's first consultation, semen parameters were measured using SMAS™ or CellSoft 3000™, and production of reactive oxygen species was measured using a computer-driven LKB Wallac Luminometer 1251 Analyzer. The patients were divided into two groups: reactive oxygen species - positive and negative. The semen parameters within each group were measured using one of the two computer-assisted semen analyzer systems and then compared. Correlations between reactive oxygen species levels and sperm motion parameters in semen from the reactive oxygen species - positive group were also investigated. Reactive oxygen species were detected in semen samples of 282 cases (33.3%). Sperm concentration (P < 0.01; P < 0.01), motility (P < 0.01; P < 0.05), and progressive motility (P < 0.01; P < 0.01) were markedly lower in the reactive oxygen species - positive group than in the reactive oxygen species - negative group. Among the sperm motion parameters in the reactive oxygen species - positive group, sperm concentration (P < 0.01; P < 0.01), motility (P < 0.05; P < 0.01), mALH (P < 0.05; P < 0.01), and progressive motility (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) also showed inverse correlations with the logarithmic transformed reactive oxygen species levels. Therefore, this study demonstrated that excessive reactive oxygen species in semen damage sperm concentration, motility, and other sperm motion parameters.

Reactive oxygen species measured in the unprocessed semen samples of 715 infertile patients

“…The luminescence values of the samples with greater than the threshold level, converted to per 10 6 spermatozoa and logarithmically transformed, were negatively correlated with the semen motile parameters that were measured by the SMAS ™ , except the LIN. These results were similar to those of other reports on the correlation between ROS in semen and semen parameters …”

“…This finding could be because the dose of luminol (100 mmol L –1 , 40 μL) in the current study was higher than that in other reports . The authors assumed that increasing the dose of luminol would make ROS detection clearer and the authors adopted the luminol dose that was reported by a specific study . However, in this study's results, the percentage of the semen samples in Groups A and B were 31.9 and 14.1%, respectively.…”

“…Moreover, only 84 cuvettes for the 1251 Luminometer ™ were available; hence, 84 samples were examined. The 1251 Luminometer ™ was used to measure the whole‐semen ROS level according to a previously reported method . When the luminescence was ≥0.1 mv/s at peak value, ROS production in this sample was considered to be detectable (Figure ).…”

“…Reactive oxygen species ( ROS ), as measured by the chemiluminescence method with a 1251 Luminometer ™ . When the peak level was ≥.1 mv/s, the ROS formation was considered to be positive.…”

“…Chemiluminescence assays are widely adopted in ROS measurement . Constant chemiluminescence after the addition of 5‐amino‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,4‐phthalazine‐dione (luminol) to unprocessed or washed semen is measured with a luminometer.…”