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International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2024Infertility is a global health challenge that affects an estimated 72.4 million people worldwide. Between 30 and 50% of these cases involve male factors, showcasing the...
Infertility is a global health challenge that affects an estimated 72.4 million people worldwide. Between 30 and 50% of these cases involve male factors, showcasing the complex nature of male infertility, which can be attributed to both environmental and genetic determinants. Asthenozoospermia, a condition characterized by reduced sperm motility, stands out as a significant contributor to male infertility. This study explores the involvement of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system, crucial for ATP production and sperm motility, in asthenozoospermia. Through whole-genome sequencing and in silico analysis, our aim was to identify and characterize OXPHOS gene variants specific to individuals with asthenozoospermia. Our analysis identified 680,099 unique variants, with 309 located within OXPHOS genes. Nine of these variants were prioritized due to their significant implications, such as potential associations with diseases, effects on gene expression, protein function, etc. Interestingly, none of these variants had been previously associated with male infertility, opening up new avenues for research. Thus, through our comprehensive approach, we provide valuable insights into the genetic factors that influence sperm motility, laying the foundation for future research in the field of male infertility.
Topics: Male; Humans; Asthenozoospermia; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Sperm Motility; Infertility, Male; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 38612930
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074121 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024(1) Background: Standard semen analysis methods may exhibit variability between observers and/or human error; therefore, additional methods are needed to overcome these...
Introducing a New Smartphone Applied Semen Analyzer, SpermCell™: A Cross-Sectional Validation Study with a Comparative Analysis and a Mini Patient Questionnaire on a Large Sample Cohort.
(1) Background: Standard semen analysis methods may exhibit variability between observers and/or human error; therefore, additional methods are needed to overcome these handicaps. We aimed to present a new smartphone-applied semen analyzer, Sperm Cell™, investigate its diagnostic efficacy by comparing it with the standard analysis method, and determine its user-friendly nature. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a large sample cohort, including 102 men. Three semen analyses were performed for each semen sample. The first employed the standard manual method, whereas the others were smartphone-based analyses performed by technicians and patients. We compared major semen parameters between the three semen analyses. The user-friendly nature of the analyzer was also evaluated with a mini-questionnaire completed by the participants. (3) Results: The determined median sperm count, motile sperm count, and percentage of motile sperms, on standard manual semen analysis, were 50.00 × 10/mL (0-160 × 10/mL), 23.94 × 10/mL (0-108 × 10/mL) and 50.00% (0-73.00%), respectively. Median sperm count and motile sperm count were 50.52 × 10/mL (<1-150 × 10/mL) vs. 55.77 × 10/mL (<1-160 × 10/mL) and 23.34 × 10/mL (0-105 × 10/mL) vs. 23.53 × 10/mL (0-104 × 10/mL) for SpermCell™-based semen analysis performed by a technician and patients themselves, respectively. The percentages of motile sperms were 47.40% (0-67.00%) vs. 47.61% (0-80.20%), respectively. All the parameters were statistically similar between the three semen analysis methods ( > 0.05 for each). The SpermCell™ analysis results were correlated with the standard manual method with up to 0.85 correlation coefficients. Moreover, substantial diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were obtained in determining the oligospermia and asthenozoospermia via the device-based analyses performed by technician and patients. The mini-questionnaire results revealed that the analyzer is useful. (4) Conclusions: The novel smartphone-applied semen analyzer is a helpful tool with acceptable diagnostic accuracy in determining the major semen parameters. It can be used as an efficient at-home point-of-care testing method in the initial assessment of couples with infertility concerns.
PubMed: 38611602
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14070689 -
Med (New York, N.Y.) Jun 2024Sperm selection, a key step in assisted reproductive technology (ART), has long been restrained at the preliminary physical level (morphology or motility); however,...
BACKGROUND
Sperm selection, a key step in assisted reproductive technology (ART), has long been restrained at the preliminary physical level (morphology or motility); however, subsequent fertilization and embryogenesis are complicated biochemical processes. Such an enormous "gap" poses tough problems for couples dealing with infertility, especially patients with severe/total asthenozoospermia .
METHODS
We developed a biochemical-level, automatic-screening/separation, smart droplet-TO-hydrogel chip (BLASTO-chip) for sperm selection. The droplet can sense the pH change caused by sperm's respiration products and then transforms into a hydrogel to be selected out.
FINDINGS
The BLASTO-chip system can select biochemically active sperm with an accuracy of over 90%, and its selection efficiency can be flexibly tuned by nearly 10-fold. All the substances in the system were proven to be biosafe via evaluating mice fertilization and offspring health. Live sperm down to 1% could be enriched by over 76-fold to 76%. For clinical application to patients with severe/total asthenozoospermia, the BLASTO-chip could select live sperm from human semen samples containing 10% live but 100% immotile sperm. The rates of fertilization, cleavage, early embryos, and blastocysts were drastically elevated from 15% to 70.83%, 10% to 62.5%, 5% to 37.5%, and 0% to 16.67%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The BLASTO-chip represents a real biochemical-level technology for sperm selection that is completely independent of sperm's motility. It can be a powerful tool in ART, especially for patients with severe/total asthenozoospermia.
FUNDING
This work was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Ministry of Education of China, and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Hetao Cooperation Zone.
Topics: Male; Humans; Spermatozoa; Animals; Mice; Asthenozoospermia; Sperm Motility; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Female; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
PubMed: 38608708
DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.03.008 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2024The relationship between oxygen sensing and autophagy in human sperms was explored in this study. Health semen and asthenozoospermia (astheno) semen were incubated with...
The relationship between oxygen sensing and autophagy in human sperms was explored in this study. Health semen and asthenozoospermia (astheno) semen were incubated with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) interferents, i.e., lificiguat (YC-1) or cobalt chloride (CoCl), respectively. Label-free quantitative proteomic technology was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins in human semen under the hypoxia condition. Selected proteins were detected with ELISA. It was found that the autophagy levels of sperm in the YC-1 + health group or CoCl + astheno group increased while the vitality decreased. A total of 17, 34 and 35 differentially expressed proteins were observed in the Astheno group, the YC-1 + health group and the CoCl + astheno group, respectively. These proteins were primarily associated with protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, Th17 cell differentiation, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, HIF-1 signaling pathway, biosynthesis of amino acids, and carbon metabolism. The expression levels of protein HIF-1α, LC3B, histone H4, cathepsin L and ENO1 changed significantly in the groups. The study suggests that hypoxia can increase sperm autophagy level and reduce their vitality through HIF-1 signaling pathway and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis signaling pathway. Furthermore, proteins histone H4, cathepsin L, glutathione synthetase and ENO1 are proposed as potential biomarkers of autophagy and vitality in asthenozoospermia sperm.
Topics: Humans; Male; Cathepsin L; Histones; Cell Hypoxia; Asthenozoospermia; Proteomics; Semen; Hypoxia; Cobalt; Autophagy; Spermatozoa; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
PubMed: 38605082
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59213-1 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Aug 2024Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is the male reproductive dust of palm flowers known as a natural product that is considered a strong stimulant of sexual potency and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is the male reproductive dust of palm flowers known as a natural product that is considered a strong stimulant of sexual potency and fertility in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). In this regard, no evidence-based medications are empirically prescribed to treat IMI. However, applying traditional medicine for the treatment of male infertility has attracted more attention in recent years.
AIM OF THE STUDY
Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen was compared with pentoxifylline (PTX) to evaluate its efficacy on sperm parameters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
During this parallel randomized controlled trial, 80 adult men with asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, or teratozoospermia (age 20-35 years) were enrolled. In two separate groups of participants with a 1:1 ratio, participants received either 6 g of Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen powder daily or 400 mg of PTX tablets daily for 90 days. We measured the sperm parameters as well as the serum sex hormones in the sample. ANCOVA and t-tests were used to compare groups.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of baseline characteristics or demographic characteristics. According to the results, participants who took Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen powder had significantly improved sperm concentration (p = 0.016), morphology (p = 0.029), sperm counts (p = 0.012), progressive motility (p = 0.016), total motility (p = 0.018), and reduced immotile sperms (p = 0.014) compared to those who took PTX.
CONCLUSIONS
In light of these results, Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is recommended as a treatment factor for ameliorating IMI by enhancing sperm functional capacity and semen parameters.
Topics: Humans; Male; Pentoxifylline; Adult; Pollen; Phoeniceae; Young Adult; Spermatozoa; Infertility, Male; Sperm Motility; Asthenozoospermia; Iran; Sperm Count; Oligospermia; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38604508
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118168 -
Cureus Mar 2024Infertility is the failure to conceive after one or more years of regular, unprotected life for a fertile female. Around 45% of males are responsible for infertility...
Infertility is the failure to conceive after one or more years of regular, unprotected life for a fertile female. Around 45% of males are responsible for infertility worldwide. Research shows that nearly 50% of infertility in India is related to male reproductive factors or diseases. The male-carrying pathology in semen production includes low sperm count, volume, motility, abnormal forms, and sperm functional tests. This case presents a 31-year-old male with complaints of wanting issues after a complete year of regular, unprotected intercourse. He had undergone all the routine diagnostic investigations on his wife, which reported no issues and recorded regular ovulatory cycles with patent tubes. Then, progressing in the diagnosis, a semen analysis revealed a semen volume of 2 mL, a sperm concentration of 4 million/mL, progressive motility of 8%, non-progressive motility of 3%, and immotile sperm of 89%, with normal sperm morphology. Based on clinical examination, semen analysis, and investigation, the case was diagnosed as oligoasthenozoospermia. Oligozoospermia means low sperm count, and asthenozoospermia means low sperm motility. Oligoasthenozoospermia can be correlated to the Shukra Kshaya Lakshanas mentioned in Ashta Shukra Dushti. There is no satisfactory treatment in modern medicine for these conditions. Yoga and Ayurvedic intervention are the better options for these conditions. This case report focuses on the management of oligoasthenozoospermia through yoga and Ayurvedic medicines, Youvanamrit Vati and Shilajitrasayan Vati, given to the patient for four months.
PubMed: 38586799
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55566 -
Archivos Espanoles de Urologia Mar 2024To explore the effect of acupuncture at Fuguan point combined with tamoxifen citrate tablet on sperm motility parameters.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of acupuncture at Fuguan point combined with tamoxifen citrate tablet on sperm motility parameters.
METHODS
A total of 115 individuals with asthenospermia were categorized based on different treatment regimens: 53 patients in the control group (receiving tamoxifen citrate tablets) and 62 patients in the observation group (undergoing acupoint acupuncture in conjunction with tamoxifen citrate tablets). Both groups underwent a 3-month treatment period. The computer-assisted sperm analysis system was employed to measure various motility parameters of human sperm, including sperm motility rate, average path velocity (VAP), lateral swing amplitude (ALH), percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm.
RESULTS
Prior to treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of sperm motility rate, VAP, ALH, percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm ( > 0.05). Following treatment, both groups exhibited significant enhancements in sperm motility rate, VAP, ALH, percentage of class a sperm, and percentage of class a + b sperm compared to pretreatment levels ( < 0.05). Furthermore, all measured indicators in the observation group demonstrated significantly superior improvements than those of the control group, with the differences proving statistically significant ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The combination of acupuncture at Fusiguan point and tamoxifen citrate tablets exerts a notably positive effect on sperm motility in individuals diagnosed with asthenospermia.
Topics: Humans; Male; Sperm Motility; Semen; Asthenozoospermia; Tamoxifen; Acupuncture Therapy; Tablets
PubMed: 38583006
DOI: 10.56434/j.arch.esp.urol.20247702.19 -
Mymensingh Medical Journal : MMJ Apr 2024Infertility, affecting 60 to 80 million couples globally, is clinically defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual contact. Male factors...
Infertility, affecting 60 to 80 million couples globally, is clinically defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual contact. Male factors contribute significantly, comprising 40.0% to 50.0% of infertility cases. While the prevalence ranges from 5.0% to 30.0% in developing countries, the exact global prevalence remains unknown. The study, conducted at CMH and Ibn Sina Hospital, Jashore from October 2020 to September 2023, utilized a cross-sectional approach; examining 4173 samples aged 21 to 41. Exclusion criteria considered known female reproductive abnormalities or medications impacting male fertility. Standardized procedures, in-depth questionnaires and SPSS software version 15.0 were employed, adhering to World Health Organization Guidelines. In a study of 4173 seeking infertility treatment, 63.0% had abnormal semen parameters, with 45.0% aged 31-40 years. Addiction patterns: 76.0% used tobacco, 14.0% reported alcohol and tobacco. Occupations: 43.0% government workers, 41.0% private workers. Marriage duration: 44.0% married 5-10 years, infertility duration: 64.0% less than 6 years. Semen analysis showed 40% with sperm count above 65 million, 46.0% with 60.0-90.0% motile sperm, and 78.0% with sperm morphology below 15.0%. The most prevalent abnormality is asthenozoospermia 59%, with oligozoospermia and azoospermia observed in 31% and 3% of cases, respectively. This study highlights the global complexity of male infertility, emphasizing genetic factors in infertile couples. Addressing sample bias and the lack of national epidemiological data underscores the ongoing need for comprehensive research to advance global infertility diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Prevalence; Seeds; Infertility, Male; Semen Analysis; Spermatozoa; Sperm Count
PubMed: 38557544
DOI: No ID Found -
Mymensingh Medical Journal : MMJ Apr 2024Although vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common health problems throughout the world, conflicting information exists on the potential association between serum...
Although vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common health problems throughout the world, conflicting information exists on the potential association between serum vitamin D levels and semen quality. Currently available data identifies that vitamin D has a vital role in reproductive process as it affects sperm motility. This study was done with the rationality to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels with asthenozoospermic males. This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted on 314 men who attended the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh July 2018 to June 2019. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria all participants were categorized into two groups; Group I included 157 asthenozoospermic male and Group II included 157 normozoospermic male according to World Health Organization 'strict' criteria 2010. Participants completed the questionnaires after they had agreed on a informed consent. Blood and semen samples were obtained for assessment and all data were adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), total motility and progressive motility. Vitamin D levels were classified according to the Endocrine Society guideline. Statistical analyses were carried out by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). The results showed that the mean vitamin D level was 16.63±5.54ng/ml in asthenozoospermic group and 19.83±5.33ng/ml in normozoospermic group. The mean vitamin D level was significantly (p<0.05) lower in asthenozoospermic group. It was noticed that 86.6% patients had vitamin D deficiency (≤20ng/ml) in asthenozoospermic group compared to 56.7% in the normozoospermic group. The study found that low vitamin D was associated with a fivefold increased risk of developing asthenozoospermia at 95% CI (2.74-8.99). Moreover, there was a positive significant correlation (r=0.285; p<0.001) between serum vitamin D level with total motility and progressive motility (r=0.232; p<0.001). Hence, the study suggests a significant association between asthenozoospermia and low vitamin D levels. However, clinical trials are warranted to further reinforce the findings.
Topics: Humans; Male; Asthenozoospermia; Semen Analysis; Spermatozoa; Sperm Motility; Cross-Sectional Studies; Infertility, Male; Vitamins; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency
PubMed: 38557524
DOI: No ID Found -
JBRA Assisted Reproduction Jun 2024Infertility is a widespread global issue that affects approximately 15% of sexually active and active couples, which contributes to about 50% of cases. Currently, the... (Review)
Review
Infertility is a widespread global issue that affects approximately 15% of sexually active and active couples, which contributes to about 50% of cases. Currently, the condition remains prevalent and often inadequately treated. This systematic review aims to evaluate existing studies investigating the effects of probiotic supplementation in men. A comprehensive search was conducted across major databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, and Scielo, using relevant keywords such as 'probiotic' OR 'Lactobacillus' OR 'Bifidobacterium' AND 'Male infertility' OR 'male fertility' OR 'sperm quality' OR 'sperm motility' OR 'oligoasthenoteratozoospermia' and their Portuguese equivalents. Four randomized clinical studies met the inclusion criteria, focusing on men diagnosed with idiopathic male infertility (oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia, and asthenozoospermia). The findings revealed that probiotic administration exhibited promising antioxidant properties by combating reactive oxygen species (ROS), consequently protecting sperm DNA from damage that correlates with declining sperm quality. Significant improvements were observed across all sperm parameters, with notable enhancement in motility. Consequently, probiotic supplementation emerges as a potential therapeutic alternative for men diagnosed with idiopathic infertility, demonstrating positive effects on sperm quality.
Topics: Humans; Male; Probiotics; Infertility, Male; Dietary Supplements; Sperm Motility
PubMed: 38530761
DOI: 10.5935/1518-0557.20240013