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

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*

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

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 clinical effects of the Chinese traditional medicine Yougui Capsules and Wuziyanzong Pills on sperm viability and motility in patients with oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSA total of 80 infertile men oligoasthenospermia were equally randomized into a trial and a control group, the former treated with Yougui Capsules at 1.68 g tid, while the latter with Wuziyanzong Pills at 6 g bid, both for a course of 12 weeks. The sperm viability and motility of the patients were detected and compared before and after medication.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks of medication, the sperm viability and percentages of grade a and grade a + b sperm were (65.7 +/- 13.1), (22.5 +/- 9.1) and (47.6 +/- 15.8)% in the trial group, significantly higher than (38.1 +/- 11.1), (13.2 +/- 6.8) and (24.1 +/- 10.9)% in the control (P<0.05). What's more, the above three parameters of the two groups were also significantly higher than those before medication, which were (31.9 +/- 16.9), (8.2% +/- 3.7) and (15.7 +/- 13.9)% in the former and (31.7 +/- 17.0), (7.9 +/- 4.5) and (16.9 +/- 13.6)% in the latter (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth Yougui Capsules and Wuziyanzong Pills can improve sperm viability and motility in patients with oligoasthenospermia, and the former is even more efficacious than the latter.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult

Idiopathic semen quality abnormalities include idiopathic oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, teratospermia, azoospermia and idiopathic abnormal semen liquefaction. The possible causes of idiopathic semen quality abnormality include age, non-inflammatory function changes of subsidiary gonadal organs, infection, genetic abnormalities, sperm mitochondrial changes, effects of environmental pollutants, and subtle hormonal changes. The diagnosis of idiopathic oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, teratospermia and azoospermia require detailed inquiry of the case history, physical examination, semen analysis, determination of reproductive hormones, genetic and immunological examinations, and so on, to exclude possible known causes. The treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, and teratospermia may involve the use of Western medicines, such as clomiphene citrate, tamoxifen, recombinant FSH, Andriol, compound zinc and selenium, L-carnitine, recombinant growth hormone and pentoxifylline, the application of traditional Chinese drugs, or the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Idiopathic azoospermia can be treated by assisted reproductive technology based on the medication of spermatogenesis-promoting drugs, and idiopathic abnormal semen liquefaction can be managed with traditional Chinese drugs, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, or in vitro semen processing technology. With the development of diagnostic technology, it is expected that more specific therapeutic methods will be established for idiopathic semen quality abnormalities and their incidence will be reduced.
Asthenozoospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Azoospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Semen Analysis

OBJECTIVETo compare the expressions of ODF1 (outer dense fiber of the sperm tail 1) in ejaculated spermatozoa from normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men with low sperm motility.

METHODSSemen analyses were performed on the semen samples obtained from normozoospermic (n=20) and asthenozoospermic (n=20) volunteers according to the WHO criteria. To rule out the contamination of germ cells and leucocytes, the human ejaculated spermatozoa were purified by a discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of ODF1 in the spermatozoa from the two groups.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that the expression of ODF1 mRNA was significantly lower in the spermatozoa from the asthenozoospermic patients than in those from the normozoospermic men (1.35 +/- 0.25 vs. 2.79 +/- 0.28, P < 0.05). Western blot confirmed the results from RT-PCR and revealed an obviously decreased expression of ODF1 in the spermatozoa of the asthenozoospermic patients, with statistically significant difference from the normozoospermic group (1.44 +/- 0.26 vs. 3.64 +/- 0.34, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ODF1 was significantly decreased in the ejaculated spermatozoa of asthenozoospermic men, which might be responsible for low sperm motility.

Asthenozoospermia ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of the Chinese medicinal preparation Shengling Capsule on patients with oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSA total of 270 male patients with infertility induced by oligoasthenospermia were equally divided into a treatment and a control group, the former medicated with Shengling Capsule at the dose of 1.6 g tid, and the latter given Vit E at 50 mg tid, both for a course of 12 weeks. Then we analyzed the changes in the patients'seminal parameters and the pregnancy of their wives.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks of medication, both the seminal parameters of the patients and pregnancy of their wives were remarkably improved, with extremely significant differences from pre-treatment and the control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONShengjing Capsule can improve sperm motility and vitality as well as sperm count. With few adverse effects, it can be used as a safe and effective therapeutic for male infertility induced by oligoasthenospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

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*