Reactive Oxygen Species Production by the Spermatozoa of Patients With Idiopathic Infertility: Relationship to Seminal Plasma Antioxidants

Abstract

Decreased seminal plasma antioxidant activity and increased reactive oxygen species production can be responsible for idiopathic male infertility.

Sperm Oxidative Stress and the Effect of an Oral Vitamin E and Selenium Supplement on Semen Quality in Infertile Men

“…In vitro studies have also shown that ROS cause sperm immotility within 5-30 min after addition of lipid peroxide, confirming that motility is very susceptible parameter to lipid peroxidation [16,24]. In comparative studies between infertile and fertile men, mean semen ROS levels were significantly higher in infertile men than those in controls [1,6,32]. Also, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and seminal plasma antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total sulfhydryl group) were significantly lower than in controls [6,32,38].…”

“…In comparative studies between infertile and fertile men, mean semen ROS levels were significantly higher in infertile men than those in controls [1,6,32]. Also, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and seminal plasma antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total sulfhydryl group) were significantly lower than in controls [6,32,38]. Iwasaki and Gagnon [23] detected ROS in 40% of semen samples from infertile patients, whereas no ROS was detected in control and azoospermic subjects.…”

Effect of Plant Hormone Gibberellic Acid-3 on Rat Testicular Biomarkers and Its Histology

“…[62,63] Oxidative stress has been established as one of the major factors leading to infertility in men. [64] Testicular production of free radicals and activation of the antioxidant defence system following exposure to toxic chemicals has been reported. [65] A role for ROS in infertility due to defective sperm function is also reported.…”

Activity of antioxidant enzymes in seminal plasma and their relationship with lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa

“…In contrast, there were no significant differences between specific and total activity of SOD, GPX and CAT in seminal plasma of two groups. Different studies have investigated antioxidant enzymes of seminal plasma in asthenozoospermic samples or other altered semen parameters but their results remain controversial (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Results based on this study showed a negative correlation between specific activity of CAT and SOD with MDA content of spermatozoa from normozoospermic samples.…”

“…The question of whether seminal plasma SOD, GPX and CAT can act coordinately to protect human spermatozoa from lipid peroxidation has not to date been systematically addressed, although the presence of SOD, GPX and CAT activity in seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men has been reported (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Since lipid peroxidation leads to loss of motility in human spermatozoa, the possibility exists that asthenozoospermic sperm suffers from the lack of protection against lipid peroxidation due to lack of adequate or non-coordination between SOD, GPX and CAT activity in seminal plasma.…”