Reassessment of the accuracy of traditional sperm characteristics and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in estimating the fertilizing potential of human semen <i>in vivo</i>

Sperm motility is one of the most important parameters in semen analysis. In this study the motility scoring method of Hellinga was used. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy source used by the sperm flagellum to initiate and propagate forward motility. This study was conducted to evaluate the interrelationships between sperm ATP and differential motility. The differential motility method supplemented the conventional by which the quantitative and qualitative motility were estimated. There was a good correlation between the differential motility scoring method and sperm [ATP], although the latter did not necessarily improve the diagnostic capacity.

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“…This was in contrast to the results of Comhaire et al [5] who found that higher ATP correlated with higher motility. According to Burger et al.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 57%

Differential Sperm Motility Scoring and Sperm ATP Concentrations

Toit

Bornman

Merwe

et al. 1993

Archives of Andrology

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“…Indeed, a significant decrease in both sperm concentration and total sperm count, and a severe decline of rapid progressive motility (grade a) were observed in the two populations. Comhaire et al 33 postulate that the percentage of spermatozoa with grade 'a' motility is the strongest indicator of the potential for in vivo fertilizing capacity of semen. Our results would suggest that an increasing proportion of men in our region could be candidates for assisted medical procreation techniques over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decline of semen quality among 10 932 males consulting for couple infertility over a 20-year period in Marseille, France

Geoffroy-Siraudin¹,

Loundou²,

Romain³

et al. 2012

Asian J Androl

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Semen from 10 932 male partners of infertile couples was analysed and sperm parameter trends were evaluated at the Reproduction Biology Laboratory of the University Hospital of Marseille (France) between 1988 and 2007. After 3-6 days of abstinence, semen samples were collected. Measurements of seminal fluid volume, pH, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility and detailed morphology of spermatozoa were performed. Sperm parameters were analysed on the entire population and in men with normal total numeration (o40 million per ejaculate). The whole population demonstrated declining trends in sperm concentration (1.5% per year), total sperm count (1.6% per year), total motility (0.4% per year), rapid motility (5.5% per year) and normal morphology (2.2% per year). In the group of selected samples with total normal sperm count, the same trends of sperm quality deterioration with time were observed. Our results clearly indicate that the quality of semen decreased in this population over the study period. Keywords: environment; male infertility; regional differences; semen quality; sperm parameters INTRODUCTION Numerous studies suggest a decline in semen quality in some parts of the world. 1-8 By contrast, other studies have shown no evidence of deteriorating semen quality. 9-16 Some studies concern infertile couples, while others analyse normal sperm parameters. Thus, a worldwide decreasing trend in semen parameter values can be neither confirmed nor rejected. 17 It was recently reported that fecundity is affected by this decrease. 18,19 It was speculated that decreasing sperm parameters are in response to adverse environmental factors. Nevertheless, the observed discrepancies between studies suggest regional differences in semen quality. [20][21][22] Variations in environmental factors, industrial pollution and/or lifestyle could explain these discrepancies. A large number of environmental factors can pollute air, drinking water and food. This can directly alter the male gonad by blood-testis barrier disruption and cellular toxicity, or disrupt androgen biosynthesis and action. Among these environmental factors, oestrogenic or anti-androgenic endocrine disrupting compounds inhibit critical cellular process controlling steroidogenesis in Leydig cells and androgen binding to the androgen receptor. 23 It has been hypothesized that endocrine disrupting compounds play a major role in the aetiology of increased incidence of testicular dysgenesis syndrome which gathers decreased quality of semen, cryptorchidism, hypospadias and testicular cancer. 24 Chemicals with hormone-like activity can also

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“…Extracellular Ca 2+ has a profound negative impact of phosphotyrosine expression by mammalian spermatozoa by virtue of an associated decrease in intracellular ATP availability. Resolving the nature of the calciumdependent enzymes involved in ATP depletion may shed light on the etiology of male infertility given the association between defective sperm function and intracellular ATP content (Comhaire et al, 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the mechanism by which calcium negatively regulates the tyrosine phosphorylation cascade associated with sperm capacitation

Baker

Hetherington

Ecroyd

et al. 2004

Journal of Cell Science

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The capacitation of mammalian spermatozoa involves the activation of a cAMP-mediated signal transduction pathway that drives tyrosine phosphorylation via mechanisms that are unique to this cell type. Controversy surrounds the impact of extracellular calcium on this process, with positive and negative effects being recorded in independent publications. We clearly demonstrate that the presence of calcium in the external medium decreases tyrosine phosphorylation in both human and mouse spermatozoa. Under these conditions, a rise in intracellular pH was recorded, however, this event was not responsible for the observed changes in phosphotyrosine expression. Rather, the impact of calcium on tyrosine phosphorylation in these cells was associated with an unexpected change in the intracellular availability of ATP. Thus, the ATP content of both human and mouse spermatozoa fell significantly when these cells were incubated in the presence of external calcium. Furthermore, the removal of glucose, or addition of 2-deoxyglucose, decreased ATP levels within human spermatozoon populations and induced a corresponding decline in phosphotyrosine expression. In contrast, the mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone had no effect on either ATP levels or tyrosine phosphorylation. Addition of the affinity-labeling probe 8-N3 ATP confirmed our prediction that spermatozoa have many calcium-dependent ATPases. Moreover, addition of the ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin, increased intracellular calcium levels, decreased ATP and suppressed tyrosine phosphorylation. Based on these findings, the present study indicates that extracellular calcium suppresses tyrosine phosphorylation by decreasing the availability of intracellular ATP, and not by activating tyrosine phosphatases or inhibiting tyrosine kinases as has been previously suggested.

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Reassessment of the accuracy of traditional sperm characteristics and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in estimating the fertilizing potential of human semen in vivo

Cited by 63 publications

References 11 publications

Differential Sperm Motility Scoring and Sperm ATP Concentrations

Differential Sperm Motility Scoring and Sperm ATP Concentrations

Decline of semen quality among 10 932 males consulting for couple infertility over a 20-year period in Marseille, France

Analysis of the mechanism by which calcium negatively regulates the tyrosine phosphorylation cascade associated with sperm capacitation

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