جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه "پارامترهای اسپرم" در نشریات گروه "پزشکی"

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has been associated with damage to multiple organ systems. One of the noteworthy aspects of the virus is its effect on male fertility and the reproductive system. We aimed to overview the involved molecular pathways to prospect the virus's effects on male reproductive tissue, spermatogenesis, and semen parameters.

PubMed and Scopus databases (papers published from 2020 to 2023) were searched for studies reporting the impact of COVID-19 on the related pathways associated with the male reproductive system at the level of cells, and 98 articles were reviewed.

The effects of COVID-19 may arise directly due to the virus's attacks on the male reproductive system or may be due to an undesirable overreaction of the immune response, such as cytokines storm or fewer. Renin-Angiotensin System and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway are also involved; counts and sperm motility were decreased, although approximately recovery was observed in survivals within months. Contrasting the drugs used for treating COVID-19 that had contradictory effects regarding vaccines, it seems there is no tangible adverse effect on male fertility.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility and the reproductive system is notable due to the presence of two major host factors, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, and involving the related pathways. It is possible that these organs could be involved, leading to effects on future generations. Understanding the process may provide a clue for managing the efficacies.

Asthenozoospermia is an infertility condition in which a person has reduced sperm motility and so, the chance of the sperm fertilizing the egg in the female reproductive tract is reduced. This study aimed to investigate sperm DNA damage using SCSA and TUNEL tests in a large population of infertile men with asthenozoospermia, comparing them with a population of normozoospermic individuals with healthy sperm samples.

In this observational case-control study, semen parameters were assessed according to the World Health Organization guidelines (2010) guideline in a large population of asthenozoospermic (1383) and normozoospermic (2235) men referring to Isfahan Fertility and Sterility Center. In addition, sperm DNA fragmentation were assessed by TUNEL, and SCSA tests. For comparison of study variations between two groups, independent samples t-test was used, and for correlation between parameters, Pearson's correlation coefficient was carried out. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Despite no significant differences in sperm volume and body mass index, the means of sperm concentration, count, total sperm motility and total progressive were significantly lower in the asthenozoospermic men compared to normozoospermic men (P<0.001). In addition, the means of high DNA stainability as well as sperm DNA fragmentation assessed by SCSA and TUNEL tests were significantly higher in asthenozoospermic men compared to normozoospermic men (P<0.001).

In asthenozoospermic men, sperm DNA is severely damaged, so before using assisted reproductive techniques in these individuals, it is better to use antioxidant treatment and/or novel sperm preparation methods for treatment of them.

Oligozoospermia or reduced sperm concentration is often associated with abnormal motility and morphology, reflecting abnormal spermatogenesis in the testes. The sperm DNA integrity plays an important role in embryo development, and fertility. Therefore, we aimed to assess sperm DNA integrity in a population of oligozoospermic and normozoospermic men.

In this cross-sectional study, 967 oligozoospermic samples (sperm count lower than 39 million per ejaculation), and 967 normozoospermic samples according to World Health Organization criteria were included. Sperm DNA damage was assessed by SCSA and TUNEL assays. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 22 software and a significance level of less than 0.05 was considered.

Mean sperm DNA damage and also DNA stainability were significantly higher in oligozoospermic individuals than them in normozoospermic individuals (Ps<0.001). Unlike semen volume and sperm count which was significantly lower (P<0.001), the mean of sperm abnormal morphology was significantly higher in oligozoospermic men compared to normozoospermic men (P<0.001).

In individuals with oligozoospermia, in addition to the count, morphology and motility of sperm can also be abnormal according to the WHO threshold. Also, sperm DNA damage is significantly high, which can indicate abnormal spermatogenesis and epididymal immaturity. Therefore, depending on the severity of the damage, it is preferable to manage therapeutic interventions, such as drug therapies or assisted reproductive techniques, in order to make the best decisions regarding treatment.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapy drug that has destructive effects on body tissues, including the male reproductive system. Since coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that can reduce its destructive effects to some extent, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of the simultaneous use of methotrexate and coenzyme Q10 on testis tissue structure and sperm parameters in male mice.

In this experimental study, 24 male NMRI mice were divided into four groups of six: the control group received 0.2 ml of distilled water intraperitoneally, the MTX group received 20 mg/kg methotrexate once a week intraperitoneally, the CoEnQ10 group received coenzyme Q10 orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg three times a week, and the MTX+CoEnQ10 group, in addition to receiving methotrexate 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally once a week, also received coenzyme Q10 orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg three times a week. All groups were treated for five weeks. After sacrificing the animals, epididymal cauda and testis tissue were sampled and analyzed respectively in order to check sperm parameters and histomorphometry changes and the process of spermatogenesis.

After treatment with MTX, viability, motility, tubule differentiation index, spermatic index, sperm repopulation index, mean seminiferous tubules diameter, seminiferous tubules lumen diameter, and germinal epithelium height decreased significantly compared to the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the treatment with MTX significantly led to DNA damage, an increase in the mean diameter of the testicular capsule and the percentage of tubular degeneration, and an increase in the number of abnormal sperms compared to the control group (p<0.05). Simultaneous use of coenzyme Q10 with MTX resulted in significant improvement of the mentioned parameters.

The results of the present study showed that MTX has a negative effect on the metabolic activity of sperm, integrity of membrane and DNA, causing a decrease in sperm parameters and changes in testicular tissue and the process of spermatogenesis. Significant improvement of coenzyme Q10 and MTX co-administration enhances the protective effect of coenzyme Q10.

 Several studies have reported that cigarette smoking affects sperm parameters, especially semen quality, but their results are contradictory. 

 This retrospective study aims to evaluate the relationship of sperm parameters with smoking in men with idiopathic infertility. 

 This retrospective study was conducted on 1744 infertile men with at least one year of idiopathic infertility. They were divided into two groups of smokers (n=379) and non-smokers (n=1365) according to their smoking habits and based on their inclusion and exclusion criteria. The semen analysis was extracted from subjects’ medical records, and the collected data were analyzed in SPSS V. 19 software.

 Smoking significantly reduced semen volume in smokers (2.88±1.50 mL) compared to non-smokers (3.28±1.77 mL) (P=0.002). There was a significant decrease in sperm motility in smokers (36.1±21.9%) compared to non-smokers (34.4±19.6%) (P=0.009). However, the association of smoking with sperm motility between men with normal and abnormal semen volumes was not statistically significant, and there was no significant difference in sperm count and morphology between infertile smokers and non-smokers (P>0.05).

 Smoking causes a significant reduction in semen volume, but has no significant effect on sperm count, morphology, and motility in men with abnormal and normal semen volume.

The present study investigated the effects of royal jelly on lead acetate induced toxicity on sperm parameters, reproductive hormone assay, and bak gene expression in NMRI male mice.

In this study, fifty four male mice were randomly divided into nine groups: control group (without royal jelly) (n=6); sham group(10 ml normal saline) (n=6); lead group (1000 ppm, oral) (n=6); Group 4: royal jelly (100 mg/kg/day, oral) (n=6); Group 5: royal jelly (250 mg/kg/day, oral)(n=6); Group 6: royal jelly (500 mg/kg/day, oral)(n=6); Group 7: royal jelly (100 mg/kg/day, oral) + 1000 ppm lead (n=6); Group 8: royal jelly (250 mg/kg/day, oral) + 1000 ppm lead (n=6) and Group 9: royal jelly (500 mg/kg/day, oral) + 1000 ppm lead (n=6). On day 35, blood samples were collected from anaesthetized mice by cardiac puncture to assess reproductive hormones and the testes were harvested for determination of sperm parameters and expression bak gene. Sperm parameters including motility, viability, DNA damage, morphology and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were determined.

The results showed that administration of royal jelly significantly enhanced sperm parameters and all reproductive hormone levels compared to control mice, (p<0.05). Also, treatment with lead acetate caused a significant reduction in levels of all reproductive hormones and a significant diminution in sperm motility, morphology, viability; with an increase in percentage of dead spermatocytes (p<0.05). The co-administration of the 250 and 500 mg/kg/day royal jelly with lead acetate could ameliorate the deleterious effects of lead acetate resulting in a significant increase in sperm parameters and all reproductive hormones and increase the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels (p<0.05). Also, the expression of bak gene in all treated (sham, royal jelly groups) and control groups was significantly lower than the lead acetate group (p<0.05).

In conclusion, our findings suggest that the royal jelly has a beneficial effect on male reproductive parameters following lead acetate induced toxicity in mice.

Methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is one of the fuel oxygenated additive that is used to reduce the environmental pollution resulting from engine combustion. This study was carried out to evaluate the acute (1 day) and subchronic (30 days) effects of MTBE on some fertility indices in the male rats.

In this study, under two separate experiments (acute and subchronic),the effects of oral MTBE on fertility indices were evaluated in the male rats. In the first experiment (acute), 15 rats and in the second experiment (subchronic), 25 rats were classified to 5 sub groups (control, sham, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg/day MTBE). At the end of each experiment, some of the sperm quality parameters (motility, viability and total count) were evaluated.

The results of this study showed that  in subchronic experiment, peanut oil as a solvent of MTBE had a significant effect on sperm motility percentage (p<0.05). After multivariate linear regression it was found that oral administration of MTBE at the target concentrations for 30 days had no significant effect on sperm motility, sperm viability and total sperm count (p˃0.05). In addition, the results showed in acute experiment,  MTBE had no significant effect on fertility indices (p˃0.05).

The present study showed that oral administration of MTBE in both short and medium term periods had no positive or negative effects on fertility indices in the male rats.

So far, the effects of blunt trauma on sperm parameters and reproductive capacity have not been firmly established and different reports have been presented. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of unilateral blunt testis on sperm parameters in acute and chronic periods after injury in mice.

In this study, 40 adult male NMRI mice with a weight of 35-30 gr were selected randomly and divided into 3 groups control, sham and experimental (blunt). Then sperm samples were examined microscopically in terms of motility, number, viability (eosin stain color and Hypoosmotic Swelling) in two acute and chronic.

In experimental groups, there was a significant decrease in sperm motility and viability compared to the control group (P<0.05). There was also a significant reduction in the number of sperm in the chronic group compared to the control (P<0.05).

Results showed that mice testicular trauma has adverse effects on sperm viability, number and progressive motility. Therefore, it can be concluded that testicular blunt trauma may impair the fertility of males.