Introduction: In Vietnam, the andrology field has been developed in recent years. Some studies have indicated the reasons for male infertility. Amongst them, the most common reason is abnormal semen. Asthenozoospermia rate was found at a higher ratio in abnormal semen analysis. \r\n', u'Objectives: To identify the characteristics of sperm and concentration of FSH, LH and Testosterone in serum; and the association between the sperm morphology and sperm motility as well as the concentration of FSH, LH and Testosterone in serum of asthenozoospermia men. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: 90 asthenozoospermia male partners of infertile couples. The semen was analyzed at the Laboratory for Tissue and Embryo Preservation, Hanoi Medical University. The hormone concentration was measured by the Automated Chemiluminescence System ACS 180. \r\n', u'Results: The mean semen volume: 3.0 \xb1 1.1 (ml); sperm density: 104.7 \xb1 86.7 million/ml; rapid motility rate: 5.9 \xb1 6.4 (%); sperm vitality rate: 67.4 \xb1 20.1 (%); normal morphology rate: 14.4 \xb1 6.9 (%). In serum, the concentration of FSH was 5.3 \xb1 2.5 lUlL; LH: 4.1 \xb1 1.8 IU/L. Testosterone: 18.3 \xb1 9.4 nmol/L. Conclusions: Among the studied asthenozoospermia men, normal semen volume was found at 91.11 %; normal sperm vitality parameter: 84.4%; normal morphology parameter: 45.56%; normal level of FSH concentration: 47.7%; normal level of LH concentration: 26.66%; normal level of Testosterone concentration: 78.89%. There was a strong association between the sperm morphology and sperm motility as well as serum Testosterone concentration. \r\n', u'
Semen analysis ; Asthenozoospermia ; FSH ; LH ; Testosteron

OBJECTIVETo observe the ultrastructural changes of sperm flagella in patients with severe idiopathic asthenospermia.

METHODSUsing the transmission electron microscope, we examined the ultrastructure of sperm flagella from 22 patients with severe idiopathic asthenospermia.

RESULTSUltrastructural anomalies were found in all the 22 patients, 6 with partial or complete absence of internal and external dynamic arms in dedicative of primary ciliary dyskinesia, 1 with hyperplasia, hypertrophy and disordered organization of the fibrous sheath usually referred to as dysplasia of the fibrous sheath, and the other 15 with non-specific flagellar anomalies.

CONCLUSIONExamination of the ultrastructure of sperm flagella in severe idiopathic asthenospermia patients can help to distinguish congenital from acquired flagellar structural anomalies and give valuable guidance in the treatment.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Tail ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVE: We tested the usefulness of swim-down technique using human follicular fluid (hFF) in sperm preparation. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from twelve male partners showing asthenozoospermia (sperm motility < 50%) at the time of routine andrologic evaluation in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. After dividing into two aliquots, each samples were processed either by swim-down using 100% hFF or density gradient using SpermGrad. Sperm quality was assessed by computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA). RESULTS: Motility, Rapid motility, VCL (curvilinear velocity), ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement), and hyperactivated sperms were significantly increased, and LIN (mean linearity) was decreased significantly after sperm preparation in both groups. Motility was significantly higher after swim-down using 100% hFF when compared with density gradient using SpermGrad (81.2+/-4.7 vs. 67.6+/-2.3, p=0.02). The other parameters assessed by CASA were not different between the two methods. CONCLUSION: Swim-down method with 100% hFF may be a useful method in preparation of sperm from asthenozoospermia.
Asthenozoospermia* ; Female ; Follicular Fluid* ; Head ; Humans* ; Male ; Semen ; Seoul ; Spermatozoa*

Asthenospermia is one of the familiar causes of male infertility. Recently, more and more studies have discovered that some diseases result from gene defect and functional variation of ion channels, known as ion channelopathies. Meanwhile, it has been found that even though many diseases do not fall into the category of the ion channelopathies, some links or passages during the disease development are closely related with the malfunction of ion channels, and many drugs can prevent and cure these diseases by acting on ion channels. The relationship of sperm physiology and pathophysiology with ion channels is gradually becoming one of the hot topics in the current researches. Recent progress in the researches on the relationship between sperm motility and ion channels ( including cation channel s and anion channels) is briefly reviewed in this article.
Animals ; Asthenozoospermia ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; Male ; Rats ; Sperm Motility

Male ; Humans ; Avena ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Asthenozoospermia ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the cation channel of sperm 1 (CatSper1) protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

METHODSSperm samples from patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were separated by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, and the distribution and expression of the CatSper1 protein were determined by immunocytochemistry. Western blotting was used to detect the different expressions of CatSper1 in the ejaculated sperm from the normal control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups, followed by statistical analyses.

RESULTSThe expression of CatSper1, located in the principle piece of the sperm tail, was reduced significantly in the samples from the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients as compared with the normal controls (t = 2.188, P = 0.042). The relative contents of the CatSper1 protein in the sperm of the control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups were 0.806 +/- 0.266, 0.669 +/- 0.207, 0.505 +/- 0.214 and 0.295 +/- 0.162, respectively, significantly decreased in the asthenozoospermia patients in comparison with the normal controls (P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of progressively motile sperm and the relative content of the CatSper1 protein (r = 0.633, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe decreased or abnormal expression of the CatSper1 protein may be a factor involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of carbonic anhydrase II (CA2) in human testes and spermatozoa, and to compare the expressions of CA2 in ejaculated spermatozoa between normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men.

METHODSThe localization of CA2 in human testes was observed by immunohistochemistry, and that in human sperm by immunofluorescence. Western blot was used to detect the expression of CA2 in the semen samples obtained from 16 normozoospermic and 16 asthenozoospermic volunteers.

RESULTSThe CA2 protein was shown to be localized in the tail of elongating spermatids by immunohistochemistry and in the flagellum of human sperm by immunofluorescence. Western blot revealed an obviously increased expression of CA2 in the spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic patients, with statistically significant difference from the normozoospermic group (1.84 +/- 0.32 vs 1.41 +/- 0.26, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe CA2 protein is expressed in the spermatogenic stage of elongating spermatids in human testes and localized in the sperm tail. The expression of CA2 is significantly increased in the spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men, which might be responsible for low sperm motility.

Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrase II ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Testis ; metabolism

Kallikrein preparation have already been accepted as therapeutic for male infertility. Especially oral Kallikrein therapy exerted a favorable effect on sperm motility in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. We have carried out a Similar clinical examination of the effect of kallikrein taken orally 60 KU per day for 3-9 months, on the qualitative increase of motile spermatozoa in normogonadotropic infertile males with l0 idiopathic oligozoospermia (less than 20 x 10(6)/ml), 10 idiopathic asthenozoospermia (less then 20% of sperm motility) and 8 idiopathic asthenozoospermia entered the study as control placebo treatment group. Number of spermatozoa increased more than 30% of basic levels (over 30 x 10(6)/ml) in the 2 patient(20 %) and pregnancy occurred in the l patient (10%) out of the 10 patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia after the kallikrein therapy. In these 2 patients responded, the sperm concentration changed from 15.4 x 10(6)ml to 43.0 x 10(6)/ml. Sperm motility improved more than 20% in the 3 patients (30%) and pregnancy occurred in the 2 patients (20%) out of the 10 idiopathic asthenozoospermia after the therapy. In these 3 patients improved, the sperm motility changed from l3.2% to 43.5%. Sperm motility was increased only 1 patient (12.5%) out of the 8 placebo treatment control group and no pregnancy occurred to a side effect of kallikrein.
Asthenozoospermia* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Kallikreins* ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

Some investigators suggest that the pancreatic proteinase kallikrein plays an important role in the regulation of spermatozoal motility. Particularly, oral kallikrein therapy exerted a favorable effect on Sperm motility in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. We have carried out a similar clinical investigation of the efficacy of kallikrein, taken orally 60 kU per day for 3-9 months, on the quantitative and qualitative motility of spermatozoa in normogonadotropic infertile men. with 15 idiopathic oligozoospermia and 18 idiopathic asthenozoospermia. Number of spermatozoa increased more than double number of basic levels (over 40 x 10(6)/ml) in the 5 patients (33%) and pregnancy occurred in the 3 patients (20%) out of the 15 patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia (less than 20 x 10(6)/ml) after the kallikrein therapy. In these responded 5 patients, the sperm concentration changed from 13.6 x 10(6)/ml to 54.0 x 10(6)/ml, Motility and viability of spermatozoa improved more than 30% in the 5 patients (28%) and pregnancy occurred in the 2patients (11%) out of the 18 patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia (less than 20% of sperm motility) after the therapy. In these. improved 5 patients, the sperm motility changed from 9.0% to 45.0%. No remarkable side effect was detected.
Asthenozoospermia ; Humans ; Infertility, Male* ; Kallikreins ; Male ; Male* ; Oligospermia ; Pregnancy ; Research Personnel ; Semen* ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

Some investigators suggest that the pancreatic proteinase kallikrein plays an important role in the regulation of spermatozoal motility. Particularly, oral kallikrein therapy exerted a favorable effect on Sperm motility in oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. We have carried out a similar clinical investigation of the efficacy of kallikrein, taken orally 60 kU per day for 3-9 months, on the quantitative and qualitative motility of spermatozoa in normogonadotropic infertile men. with 15 idiopathic oligozoospermia and 18 idiopathic asthenozoospermia. Number of spermatozoa increased more than double number of basic levels (over 40 x 10(6)/ml) in the 5 patients (33%) and pregnancy occurred in the 3 patients (20%) out of the 15 patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia (less than 20 x 10(6)/ml) after the kallikrein therapy. In these responded 5 patients, the sperm concentration changed from 13.6 x 10(6)/ml to 54.0 x 10(6)/ml, Motility and viability of spermatozoa improved more than 30% in the 5 patients (28%) and pregnancy occurred in the 2patients (11%) out of the 18 patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia (less than 20% of sperm motility) after the therapy. In these. improved 5 patients, the sperm motility changed from 9.0% to 45.0%. No remarkable side effect was detected.
Asthenozoospermia ; Humans ; Infertility, Male* ; Kallikreins ; Male ; Male* ; Oligospermia ; Pregnancy ; Research Personnel ; Semen* ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa