Men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia exhibit lower serum and seminal plasma melatonin levels: Comparative effect of night‑light exposure with fertile males

Abstract

Melatonin is a darkness hormone secreted by the pineal gland, which serves a role in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (iOAT). The present study aimed to evaluate the seminal plasma and serum melatonin levels of 50 patients with iOAT and 50 normal fertile controls and the effects of exposure to light at night on semen parameters. Semen analyses were performed according to the World Health Organization 2010 guidelines. Measurements of serum and seminal plasma melatonin, serum TSH, FT3, FT4, free testosterone, prolactin, FSH and LH were performed using ELISA. The overall results revealed that the serum and seminal plasma levels of melatonin were lower in patients with iOAT compared with the control subjects (P=0.0004 and 0.01, respectively). Patients with iOAT who were exposed to light at night exhibited lower serum and seminal plasma melatonin levels compared with those who were not exposed to light at night (P<0.0001 and 0.02, respectively). Additionally, similar significant differences were identified in control subjects exposed to light at night when compared to non-exposed controls. There was a significantly positive correlation between serum melatonin levels and sperm motility in the entire iOAT patient cohort (r= 0.614; P<0.0001) and a significantly positive correlation between the serum and seminal plasma melatonin levels in the non-exposed iOAT patient subgroup (r=0.753; P<0.001). Thus, darkness and sleep at night may improve the semen parameters of patients with iOAT, as evidenced by the effects of light exposure at night on the serum and seminal plasma levels of melatonin and, consequently, on semen parameters.

Ameliorative effect of melatonin on apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa in the idiopathic asthenoteratospermic men: In vitro

“…Melatonin is a hormone by N-acetyl-5-methoxy chemical formula, which is produced in the pineal gland in the brain while helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle in the body (Pereira et al, 2020). The secretion level of this hormone reaches a maximum at night and decreases around noon (Hassan et al, 2020;Pereira et al, 2020). Melatonin is synthesised from the essential amino acid tryptophan to serotonin and also a low level of melatonin (Pereira et al, 2020).…”

Dietary Antioxidants in the Treatment of Male Infertility: Counteracting Oxidative Stress

“…Fertile men have higher melatonin seminal [ 223 , 224 ] and serum levels [ 224 ] than infertile men. This hormone has proven to decrease DNA fragmentation and MDA, and increase sperm viability [ 221 ].…”

“…Melatonin was shown as well to protect spermatogonia stem cells in-vitro [ 222 ]. The disruption of the sleep-wake cycle and its relationship with spermatic parameters was also studied; in a 2020 case-control study men with nigh-shifts or light exposure during the night, showed diminished sperm concentration and motility as well as an increase of abnormal spermatozoa forms [ 224 ]. A systematic review and meta-analysis about melatonin and ART concluded melatonin enriched cultures yield higher quality embryos [ 225 ]; another interesting experimental study measured microRNAs (miRNAs) in the follicular ambient based on the melatonin profile of female patients, finding miRNAs to be a good non-invasive marker of good quality embryos and melatonin supplementation to yield higher quality oocytes [ 226 ].…”

Metabolic Profiles and Sperm Production in Imported Holstein Bull Sires Under Different Climatic and Geochemical Conditions of Russia and Kazakhstan

“…Дежурное ночное освещение в животноводческих помещениях нарушает циркадные ритмы. Показано, что синяя составляющая спектра, в том числе искусственного освещения, в значительной степени подавляет продукцию гормона мелатонина, от секреции которого зависит качество сна животных (128). В свою очередь, мелатонин опосредовано оказывает регулирующее влияние на функции тестикул (129,130).…”