Background: Seminal fructose is derived from the seminal vesicle and is therefore a suitable marker for its function. Fructose is the energy source for sperm and may have an importance in pathological conditions of semen, e.g. in asthenozoospermia. Objective: To find out if there is a correlation between seminal plasma fructose level and sperm concentration and motility in infertile Iraqi men. In addition, the study assessed the reliability of using seminal fructose concentration as indicator of seminal vesicles function. Patients and Methods: Forty six infertile men, free from infectious disease or endocrine disorders, were selected for the study. Control group, selected from couples with proven male fertility, were 10 fertile men. Semen samples, collected from theses fertile and infertile men, were analyzed for general seminal fluid examination and fructose concentration determination. Results: Seminal fructose has been noticed to have significant negative correlations with sperm count, with percentage of motile sperm and with absolute number of motile sperms. These negative correlations may be due to increased rate of fructolysis with higher sperm count and motility or due to an endocrine cause related to relatively high FSH in infertile men. To use seminal plasma fructose as a marker for seminal vesicles function, a correction for the opposing factors that affect fructose level such as sperm count and motility is carried out. Corrected seminal fructose is positively correlated with the total number of motile sperm. Furthermore, a positive correlation between true corrected fructose and the percentage as well as the total number of motile sperm has been found. Conclusion: Seminal fructose level has an inverse correlation with sperm count and percentage and number of motile sperm in the study group. Seminal fructose is a good marker of seminal vesicle function after using the correction formulae.
The objective of the research was to investigate the potential correlation between serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and sperm parameters such as sperm concentration, sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. A hundred male patients voluntarily participated in the study at a private andrology clinic in Al Najaf Al Ashraf City, Iraq, between October 2023 and November 2023. The patients were divided into four groups: 26 patients with oligozoospermia, 21 patients with asthenozoospermia, 28 patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), and those with normozoospermia. Semen quality was evaluated by conducting a semen analysis according to the 2021 World Health Organization guidelines. The ELISA method was employed to measure the levels of AMH in serum samples. Biotechnology Instrument, USA, manufactured the ELIZA components that were used. The average age of the participants was 30.85 ± 0.70 years, BMI was 27.60 ± 0.58 kg/m2, and serum AMH was 2.08 ± 0.11 ng/ml. We did not find any negative or positive correlation between AMH levels in the blood with sperm concentration, sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology in all study groups. The results of this study showed that serum AMH is an unreliable marker for predicting spermatogenic abnormalities.
Background: Infertility is considered one of the main public health issues, as it affects about 15% of the couples of reproductive age. The male factor is involved in 40% - 50% of infertility cases. It is difficult to assess accurately the overall magnitude of the contribution of genetics to infertility as most, if not all, conditions are likely to have a genetic component. The genetic causes of infertility are varied and include chromosomal abnormalities, single gene disorders and phenotypes with multifactorial inheritance. Some genetic factors influence males specifically, whereas others affect both males and females. Frequently, however, in the clinic no clear cause for the observed infertility could be diagnosed which at least in part, it reflects our still poor understanding of the basic mechanisms that regulating and controlling the genetic networks of male infertility. Objective: To study the molecular identification of Azoospermic infertile patients by the gene sequencing of NR5A1. Subjects, Materials and Methods: A study carried out during the period from November 2014 to June 2015. Fifty specimens were collected from thirty azoospermic patients and twenty normal healthy subjects (normozoospermic subjects) as control their age ranged between 23 and 48 years old, the seminal fluid of cases indicated that liquefaction time, color and viscosity equal in normozoospermic subjects (control group) and patient group while there is significant difference P≥0.05 in sperm count reach to more than 20 million and motility reach to more than > 25% in control subjects while there is no sperm count found in azoospermic patients. Then blood was collected for hormonal assay, in azoospermic patients the results revealed a gradual decrease in serum testosterone levels with a concomitant increase in serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) level when compared with control subjects . NR5A1 gene were investigated in 30 samples of extracted DNA from azoospermic patients by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method it can directly detect the NR5A1 gene content after it had been molecularly identified then were sent successfully for sequencing analysis ,this study examined the presence of two transversion and one transition mutation of NR5A1 gene in azoospermic patients compared with control subjects, there’s no mutation in the same gene when compared with gene bank.
Background: Sperm cells are well equipped with a powerful defense system of antioxidants, but an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the available antioxidant-defenses result in oxidative stress. Therefore, antioxidants are supplemented extracellularly under in vitro conditions. Antioxidants are the main defense factors against oxidative stress induced by free radicals. Vitamin E is believed to be the primary component of the antioxidant system of the spermatozoa and is one of the major membrane protectants against ROS and lipid peroxidation (LPO) attack. It appears to be the first line of defense against the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) contained in the cellular and sub-cellular membrane phospholipids because of its lipid solubility. Objective: The aim of the current study to evaluate effects of supplementing semen extender with vitamin E, at various concentrations (2, 6 and 12 IU/ml) on sperm motility, survival and morphology on the releases of free radicals and antioxidant enzymes within semen. Patients ,Materials and Methods: Twenty two patients were involved in the present study semen samples were obtained, and sperm count was assessed. The antioxidant (vitamin E) was formulated to be tested at three different levels as follow; 2, 6 and 12 IU/ml; Therefore, control and 3 antioxidant-containing extenders were prepared for semen dilution. The sample was divided into 4 aliquots. One volume of semen was added to 5 equal volumes of the designed extender. Extended semen samples (37˚C) were gradually cooled to 4˚C in the refrigerator and stored for 48 hours. A semen sample was taken out after 48h of storage, then warmed to 37˚C and checked for progressive motility, viability and abnormality. Sperm viability was assessed by Eosin Y. (0.5%)—Nigrosin (0.1%) staining mixture. A total of 200 sperm were assessed under oil immersion with a high-resolution (X100) objective. Sperm morphology was assessed by Hematoxylin-Eosin satin, at least 200 sperm were scored on randomly chosen field, under oil immersion with a high-resolution (X100) objective. Results: The highest post-thaw motility and sperm survival (44% and 51.7%) 48 h after storage at 4˚C (Table 1) were attained (P < 0.01) in the basal diluents containing 6 IU vitamin E. Likewise, the correspondent percentages of live spermatozoa were 59%. Contrariwise, percentage of sperm abnormalities for the previous treatment was 25% significantly (P < 0.05) decrease compares with basal diluents containing 2, 12 IU vitamin E. The lowest (P ≥ 0.05) survival (23.5%, Table 1) was found in the basal diluents containing 12 IU vitamin. Beyond 6 IU vitamin E, there appears to exert adverse effects on sperm viability and survival. Conclusions: For the best protection against the increased free radicals production during chilling-preservation of human semen, extenders must contain 6 IU vitamin E per ml. The intensive production of free radicals in seminal plasma was counteracted by the inclusion of vitamin E at the above mentioned concentrations.
Background: Oligozoospermia is one of male infertility type which related with sperm lowering count in seminal fluid under limited reference. There are many factors leads to oligozoospermia like, congenital defects, endocrinal disorders, genetic abnormalities, immunological factors , life style , or in some cases unknown reasons. Immune and some non-immune cells produce immuno-chemical messengers proteins called (Interleukins) work as alerts proteins and contribute in immune body defend. These mediators found in all body fluids, also found in seminal fluid,and it’s presence of certain concentrations reflects the state of health of the body. Objective:Measure the level of interleukin-6 in fertile (normospermia) and infertile (Oligozoospermia). Materials and Methods: Microscopically and macroscopically ejaculates analysis according to WHO (2010) criteria for eighty -seven ejaculate from normospermia and oligozoospermia patients with age rang (21-47)yrs. , in duration of ( Nov-2013 to Mar-2014), study divide in to three groups according to the concentration ranges in to (normospermia > 15X 106 cells/ml), (Mild to Moderate Oligozoospermia 15-5 X106cells/ml) , (Severe Oligozoospermia< 5X106). Then store all samples in(-20 ) , IL-6 was detected through the (ELISA) specific way and kit . Results: Interleukin-6level is less in normospermia group than Oligozoospermia groups at (P<0.05), IL-6 level not correlated with sperm count, except weak correlation in severe group at (P≤ 0.05) and (t α=0.05). Conclusions: There are no correlation between IL-6 level and sperm cells concentration but the variation of interleukin-6 level among the groups indicate that some sperms parameters influence on interleukin-6 levels among the groups like sperm motility or morphology and also that the causative factors which lead to oligozoospermia also effect on IL-6 level and effect on spermatogenesis .
Background: Zygote produce from once a sperm fertilizes an egg cell. Then, the zygote (unicellular) will begin chain of cellular cleavages to produce multicellular mass, its embryo, the differentiated to different tissues and organism. The development of the embryo is called embryogenesis. Coenzyme Q10, is an antioxidant produced in the body. It boosts cellular energy and may enhance the immune system. CoQ10 is present and measurable in seminal fluid, the concentration of CoQ10 directly correlates with both sperm count and motility. It is beneficial in the prevention and treatment a wide range of health problems. Objectives: The present study was aimed to investigate the possibility of using coenzyme Q10 to improvein vitro fertilization (IVF), and early embryonic development (ED) in mice as a model for human being. Methods: Superovulation program was achieved to mature healthy female mice with age 10-12 weeks and weight 24-26 gm. After sacrificing female, oocytes were collected and incubated within CO2 incubator for less than 1 hour. Sperm were collected from vas deference of males. Sperm parameters were assessed after 30 min. ofincubation. Mature oocytes were divided into three groups according to theconcentrations of CoQ10 including G1 (control group; SMART medium only), G2 (treated group; SMART medium enriched with 20 M CoQ10) and G3 (treated group; SMART medium enriched with 40 M CoQ10). IVF technique was performed for 3 groups, and assessment of IVF (%), embryonic development stage (%) and abnormal embryo morphology (%) for each embryo stage. Results: Results of the present study appeared significant increment (P<0.05) in the percentages of IVF for both treated groups as compared to the control groups. Also, significant increase (P<0.0P) in the IVF (%) was observed when using 40 M CoQ10 as compared to 20 M CoQ10. Non significant differences (P>0.05%) in the 8-cells embryo stage were assessed among control and treated groups. Conclusion: From the results of the present study it wasconcluded that the coenzyme Q10 (40µM) enriched to the culture medium improved percentage of in vitro fertilization and no effect on embryonic development.
When evaluating male reproductive potential, it is crucial to evaluate sperm structural abnormalities and sperm DNA damage. Apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption are linked to sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), which is inversely correlated with motility and normal morphology. To enable liquefaction, the semen sample is taken in a sterile collection container and incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes The samples were then split into three groups, P, G, and N, based on the morphological %. To measure chromatin condensation, aniline blue staining (AB), an acidic dye with a strong affinity for non-lysine-rich histones, was employed. The DNA maturity of the spermatozoa was assessed using AB. Sperm concentration, total sperm count, total motility, and total progressively motile sperm all had means that were above the WHO 2010 standard range. The DNA fragmentation index was significantly higher in patients with pattern P than in patients with patterns G and N, and it differed significantly (P=0.003) between the semen morphological patterns. In conclusion, as DNA fragmentation is an independent test this study showed that a low percentage of normal sperm morphology might indicate DNA integrity status.
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the absence of sperm in infertile men ejaculate as a result of significant spermatogenesis defects or hormonal malfunction. PRP intratesticular injection may be employed in assisted reproductive technology as a therapeutic effect for this problem. The aim is to assess the level of spermatogenesis and reproductive hormones after PRP autologous intratesticular injection. 50 non-abstructive azoospermia infertile men participated in the current study. The patients were given an intra-testicular injection of platelet-rich plasma using a 1 ml syringe; FSH LH hormonal levels were estimated; if there was no sperm count, the patient should be prepared for a testicular biopsy by the expert doctor. Small number of sperm may be discovered during a biopsy while the testes are being examined in the lab. The therapeutic benefits were seen in 15 patients 3-4 months after using autologous platelet-rich plasma. The results showed that there was a highly significant difference in FSH and LH hormonal levels after PRP injection P(0.001). PRP can help non-obstructive azoospermic infertile males with their testis' structural and functional dysfunction.
Human sperm chromatin and integrity of DNA have multiple endogenous factors, such as sperm compression and nucleoproteins, with various mechanisms all through their own sperm production and transport. The integrity of the paternal genetic material in both regular and assisted pregnancy is essential for initiating and maintaining a viable pregnancy. The study included semen samples from 100 men taken from Al Nahrain University Medical Clinic and Babylon Teaching Hospital for Women and Children. The first sperm test was based on the World Health Organization (1999), followed by a DNA integrity test that uses a DNA fragmentation test, and the third intensification test Chromatin by aniline blue dye. It was correlated negatively with the sperm count in combination with DFI and chromatin sperm with semen characteristics (r = - 0.223, p = 0.026). As well as DFI, sperm chromatin was being clinically significant associated with the rate of round cells (r = 0.39, < 0.001). DFI was positive and significantly associated with sperm chromatin in all infertile men (r = 0.958; p<0.001). DNA isolation in all enrolled men has been adversely linked with sperm/ejaculation, has been associated with the round cell count positive way and is not understanding and resolving with other parameters. The width of abstinence and beneficial cell count in all register men were strongly linked with Sperm chromatin. There was a direct relationship between the fragmentation of DNA and chromatin. This could imply that one exam can be used instead of the other.