The sperm function of fertile men (control), infertility patients (experimental), and men with varicocele were compared. The bioassays used were the follicular fluid-induced acrosome reaction, the binding to the zona pellucida, and the penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes. The percentage (mean +/- SEM) of reacted spermatozoa was 35 +/- 3 in the control, 22 +/- 1 in the experimental, and 22 +/- 3 in the varicocele. The minimum value of acrosome reaction in control men was 20%. The mean number of zona-bound spermatozoa was 250 +/- 30 in the control, 160 +/- 28 in the experimental, and 196 +/- 44 in the varicocele. The minimum number of zona bound spermatozoa in control men was 50. The mean number of hamster oocytes penetrated was 50 +/- 8 in the control, 19 +/- 3% in the experimental, and 10 +/- 3 in the varicocele. The minimum number of oocytes penetrated in control men was 6%. In the experimental group, 22 men had a normal sperm function, 58 had 1 or 2 bioassays below the minimum (relative dysfunction), and 10 had all bioassay below the minimum (abnormal sperm function). The results of these bioassays could help to reclassify the infertile men in several subgroups.
sperm function assessment fertile infertile men bioassays, acrosome reaction follicular fluid sperm function test, zona pellucida binding sperm fertility evaluation, hamster oocyte penetration assay male infertility, varicocele sperm function acrosome reaction zona binding, Vigil Comhaire sperm function bioassay assessment, male factor infertility sperm functional testing classification, sperm dysfunction subgroups infertile men bioassay, zona-free hamster oocyte penetration test semen analysis, sperm acrosome reaction varicocele infertility diagnosis
PMID 8042770 8042770 DOI 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1994.tb00756.x 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1994.tb00756.x
Cite this article
Vigil, P., Wöhler, C., Bustos-Obregón, E., Comhaire, F., & Morales, P. (1994). Assessment of sperm function in fertile and infertile men. Andrologia, 26(2), 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.1994.tb00756.x
Vigil P, Wöhler C, Bustos-Obregón E, Comhaire F, Morales P. Assessment of sperm function in fertile and infertile men. Andrologia. 1994;26(2):55-60. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.1994.tb00756.x
Vigil, P., et al. "Assessment of sperm function in fertile and infertile men." Andrologia, vol. 26, no. 2, 1994, pp. 55-60.
We herein summarise the evidence concerning the impact of sperm DNA fragmentation in various clinical infertility scenarios and the advances on sperm DNA fragmentation tests. The collected evidence was used to formulate 41 recommendations. Of these, 13 recommendations concern technical aspects of sperm DNA fragmentation testing, including pre-analytical information, clinical thresholds and interpretation of results. The remaining 28 recommendations relate to indications for sperm DNA fragmentation testing and clinical management. Clinical scenarios like varicocele, unexplained infertility, idiopathic infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection, fertility counselling for men with infertility risk factors and sperm cryopreservation have been contemplated. The bulk evidence supporting the recommendations has increased in recent years, but it is still of moderate to low quality. This guideline provides clinicians with advice on best practices in sperm DNA fragmentation testing. Also, recommendations are provided on possible management strategies to overcome infertility related to sperm DNA fragmentation, based on the best available evidence. Lastly, we identified gaps in knowledge and opportunities for research and elaborated a list of recommendations to stimulate further investigation.
Effective medical treatments of infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia (OAT) have yet to be determined. This study (i) to measure the changes in semen parameters, omega-3 fatty acids (FA) compositions and anti-oxidant activity; (ii) to determine if the administration of omega-3 FA affect semen quality in infertile men with OAT. Two hundred thirty-eight infertile men with idiopathic OAT were randomised to eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), 1.84 g per day (EPAX 5500TG; Lysaker, Norway), or placebo for 32 weeks. The semen parameters were assessed according to WHO criteria, and the EPA and DHA concentrations were determined in red blood cells (RBCs), seminal plasma and sperm cells at baseline and 32-week treatment period. Of randomised subjects, 211 (88.7%) completed the full 32-week randomisation period. The anti-oxidant status of seminal plasma was also evaluated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase-like activity. In the total group of participants, all EPA and DHA levels in RBC, and seminal plasma, were statistically significantly correlated with those in spermatozoa (both P = 0.001). A significant improvement of sperm cell total count (from 38.7 ± 8.7 ' 10⁶ to 61.7 ± 11.2 ' 10⁶, P = 0.001) and sperm cell concentration (from 15.6 ± 4.1 ' 10⁶ per ml to 28.7 ± 4.4 ' 10⁶ per ml, P = 0.001) was observed in the omega-3 group. A significant positive correlation was found between the EPA and DHA in seminal plasma and the semen parameters. Seminal plasma EPA and DHA concentrations were positively correlated with seminal plasma SOD-like and catalase-like activity (both P = 0.001). In seminal plasma, both SOD-like and catalase-like activity were positively correlated with sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. Oligoasthenoteratospermic men with low levels of EPA and DHA may benefit from omega-3 FA supplementation. Further studies are warranted to shed more light on this important issue.
AndrologyAcrosome ReactionEstradiol Effects on SpermHormonal Interactions
The acrosome is a secretory vesicle located in the sperm head. The acrosome reaction consists in the fusion of the sperm plasma membrane with the external acrosomal membrane. It has been observed that this reaction does not take place in spermatozoa incubated in cervical mucus, hydrogel that contains high concentrations of oestradiol in the peri-ovulatory period. The objective of the present study was to analyse the influence of oestradiol on the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa to evaluate the possible inhibitory effect of this hormone. Spermatozoa were incubated in progesterone (10.1 nmol l(-1)); oestradiol plus progesterone (oestradiol at 840 pmol l(-1) and progesterone at 10.1 nmol l(-1)), oestradiol (840 pmol l(-1)) and control (without steroidal hormones) for 30 min, 60 min, 240 min and 24 h. The acrosome reaction was evaluated by stain with Hoechst 33258 and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Pisum sativum agglutinin lectin. Progesterone-incubated spermatozoa showed the highest percentage of acrosome reaction (P < 0.05). Spermatozoa incubated with oestradiol and oestradiol plus progesterone showed the lowest percentage of acrosome reaction. The present study demonstrates the inhibitory role of oestradiol on the acrosome reaction, stimulated by progesterone in human spermatozoa under physiological conditions.
The incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection and the possible correlation between couples presenting with first-trimester spontaneous abortions and active Ct infection was assessed. Additionally, the ability of Ct to infect zona-free hamster oocytes was explored by incubating the oocytes with spermatozoa from infected patients. A total of 961 women and 750 men consulting our reproductive medicine centre were screened for Ct using direct immunofluorescence. The general incidence of Ct infection was 9.4% in females (90 of 961) and 13.9% in males (104 of 750). In women with spontaneous abortions the incidence of Ct was 21.0% (14 of 66) compared with 8.9% (23 of 59) for women without spontaneous abortions and term pregnancies (chi-square, P < 0.05). When both partners of the couples were considered (one or both partners infected), the incidence rose to 68.8% (22 of 32) (chi-square, P < 0.001). In vitro studies using electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of Ct on the surface of and inside the oocyte. These results indicate a correlation between an active Ct infection and spontaneous abortion. Electron microscopy studies suggested the possibility of direct oocyte infection by Ct. Two models are proposed for the pathogenesis (i) direct zygote infection, and (ii) immune response to heat shock proteins expressed by the zygote and triggered by previous Ct infections.