Specialized sperm function tests in varicocele and the future of andrology laboratory

Majzoub, Ahmad; Esteves, Sandro C.; Gosálvez, Jaime; Agarwal, Ashok

doi:10.4103/1008-682x.172642

Cited by 81 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…More recently, sperm DNA fragmentation analysis has been introduced as a new diagnostic tool for the evaluation of male fertility 33. However, a more holistic approach, using as many variables as possible, will be required for a better assessment of male fertility potential.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spermiogram and sperm head morphometry assessed by multivariate cluster analysis results during adolescence (12-18 years) and the effect of varicocele

et al. 2016

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This work evaluates sperm head morphometric characteristics in adolescents from 12 to 18 years of age, and the effect of varicocele. Volunteers between 150 and 224 months of age (mean 191, n = 87), who had reached oigarche by 12 years old, were recruited in the area of Barranquilla, Colombia. Morphometric analysis of sperm heads was performed with principal component (PC) and discriminant analysis. Combining seminal fluid and sperm parameters provided five PCs: two related to sperm morphometry, one to sperm motility, and two to seminal fluid components. Discriminant analysis on the morphometric results of varicocele and nonvaricocele groups did not provide a useful classification matrix. Of the semen-related PCs, the most explanatory (40%) was related to sperm motility. Two PCs, including sperm head elongation and size, were sufficient to evaluate sperm morphometric characteristics. Most of the morphometric variables were correlated with age, with an increase in size and decrease in the elongation of the sperm head. For head size, the entire sperm population could be divided into two morphometric subpopulations, SP1 and SP2, which did not change during adolescence. In general, for varicocele individuals, SP1 had larger and more elongated sperm heads than SP2, which had smaller and more elongated heads than in nonvaricocele men. In summary, sperm head morphometry assessed by CASA-Morph and multivariate cluster analysis provides a better comprehension of the ejaculate structure and possibly sperm function. Morphometric analysis provides much more information than data obtained from conventional semen analysis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spermiogram and sperm head morphometry assessed by multivariate cluster analysis results during adolescence (12-18 years) and the effect of varicocele

et al. 2016

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“…The eight described methods to assess SDF are briefly presented below and summarized in Table 1 . The most commonly used tests are terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), the sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD), and the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) (26). …”

Section: Evidence Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical utility of sperm DNA fragmentation testing: practice recommendations based on clinical scenarios

Agarwal¹,

Majzoub²,

Esteves³

et al. 2016

Transl. Androl. Urol.

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329

415

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Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has been generally acknowledged as a valuable tool for male fertility evaluation. While its detrimental implications on sperm function were extensively investigated, little is known about the actual indications for performing SDF analysis. This review delivers practice based recommendations on commonly encountered scenarios in the clinic. An illustrative description of the different SDF measurement techniques is presented. SDF testing is recommended in patients with clinical varicocele and borderline to normal semen parameters as it can better select varicocelectomy candidates. High SDF is also linked with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and can influence outcomes of different assisted reproductive techniques. Several studies have shown some benefit in using testicular sperm rather than ejaculated sperm in men with high SDF, oligozoospermia or recurrent in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure. Infertile men with evidence of exposure to pollutants can benefit from sperm DNA testing as it can help reinforce the importance of lifestyle modification (e.g., cessation of cigarette smoking, antioxidant therapy), predict fertility and monitor the patient’s response to intervention.

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“…Metabolomics, the study of cellular metabolic products and genomics, the study of identifying genetic abnormalities are current progressive research areas [116]. These studies have a great potential for identifying highly sensitive biomarkers.…”

Section: Future Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactive Oxygen Species and Sperm Cells

Takeshima¹,

Kuroda²,

Yumura³

2018

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Living Cells

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Many cases of male factor infertility are idiopathic, but 30-40% of cases may have excessive levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their semen. The origins of endogenous ROS are leukocytes and immature spermatozoa, and external causes are various. On the contrary, seminal plasma contains various antioxidants. Low levels of ROS are essential for the fertilization process, but excessive levels of ROS lead to oxidative stress and can have harmful effects such as lipid peroxidation of a membrane, sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation, and apoptosis on the fertile capacity. In order to evaluate oxidative stress appropriately, ROS is measured by the chemiluminescence method with neat semen and quantification of 8-OH-2′-deoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde in seminal plasma. Antioxidant potential is often measured using total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay. The oxidation-reduction potential measured by a MiOXSYS analyzer is a novel, easier, quicker, and less expensive technology to measure oxidative stress. In order to minimize oxidative stress and improve clinical outcomes, sperm-sorting methods, lifestyle modifications, shortening the ejaculatory abstinence, and treatments such as oral antioxidants, varicocelectomy, and testicular sperm extraction are taken into account. As a future prospect, proteomics, metabolomics, and genomics are still developing areas that have the potential to discover new findings and highly sensitive biomarkers.

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Specialized sperm function tests in varicocele and the future of andrology laboratory

Cited by 81 publications

References 75 publications

Spermiogram and sperm head morphometry assessed by multivariate cluster analysis results during adolescence (12-18 years) and the effect of varicocele

Spermiogram and sperm head morphometry assessed by multivariate cluster analysis results during adolescence (12-18 years) and the effect of varicocele

Clinical utility of sperm DNA fragmentation testing: practice recommendations based on clinical scenarios

Reactive Oxygen Species and Sperm Cells

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