Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a unique and novel signaling phospholipid that has pleiotropic biologic properties in addition to platelet activation. Recent studies show that this novel compound plays a significant role in male reproduction and sperm function. PAF binds surface special receptors inducing the formation of inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) and increasing intracellular calcium. The concentrations of sperm-derived PAF may help predict sperm motility and fertilization potential, which may serve as a valuable marker for assessing male fertility. Exogenous PAF can improve sperm motility, acrosome reaction and pregnancy rates in human intrauterine inseminations.
Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Activating Factor ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

AIMTo analyse the possible effect of seasonal variation on semen parameters.

METHODSThe participants consisted of 1,688 men attending the andrology laboratory between 1991 and 1997 for reduced fertility in the couple. Semen analysis was performed according to the WHO manual. The 84 individual months of the study period were each assigned to one of the three groups according to the average monthly outside temperature; Group A (temperature < 4.4 degrees C), Group B (4.4 degrees C - 13.3 degrees C) and Group C (>13.3 degrees C).

RESULTSWhen comparing the different sperm parameters, the morphology was significantly better in Group C. However, when the smokers were analysed separately, this difference disappeared and significant seasonal variations were found in sperm density, total sperm count, motility and total motile sperm; they were deteriorated in the warmer season. In non-smokers, no such negative effect of increased temperature was observed.

CONCLUSIONSperm quality is influenced by seasonal factors. Increased environmental temperature, (maybe also light exposure) has an additional negative effect on the spermatogenesis in smokers, leading to reduced sperm quality in men with borderline fertility.

Adult ; Fertility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Reference Values ; Seasons ; Semen ; physiology ; Smoking ; physiopathology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Switzerland ; Temperature

Sperm must be capacitated before sperm-ovum fusion. Capacitation was once considered as hyperactivation. But now many investigators thought that capacitation wasn't equal to hyperactivation, and that sperm hyperactivation might be a moiety of capacitation or the result of capacitation. In the present, the methods used to study sperm capacitation include fertilization in vitro, induction of sperm acrosome reaction, FITC-labeled chlortetracycline and plant hemoagglutinin. The studies on sperm capacitation in vitro mainly focused on the inductive substances of sperm capacitation and subsequent results analysis. It could lay foundation for the manifestation of molecular mechanism of sperm capacitation and destination of sperm capacitation in molecular levels.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; physiology ; Bicarbonates ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Sperm Capacitation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Motility

AIMTo develop a method for assessing sperm function by measuring released acrosin activity during the acrosome reaction (AR).

METHODSHuman semen samples were obtained from 24 healthy donors with proven fertility after 3-7 days of sexual abstinence. After collection, samples were liquefied for 30 min at room temperature. Standard semen parameters were evaluated according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Calcium ionophore A23187 and progesterone (P4) were used to stimulate the sperm to undergo AR. After treatment, sperm were incubated with the supravital dye Hoechst33258, fixed in a glutaraldehyde-phosphate-buffered saline solution, and the acrosomal status was determined by fluorescence microscopy with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin (FITC-PSA). The percentage of sperm undergoing AR (AR%) was compared to sperm acrosin activities as assessed by spectrocolorimetry. The correlation between AR% and acrosin activity was determined by statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe AR% and released acrosin activity were both markedly increased with A23187 and P4 stimulation. Sperm motility and viability were significantly higher after stimulation with P4 versus stimulation with A23187 (P < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between released acrosin activity and AR% determined by FITC-PSA staining (r=0.916, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSpectrocolorimetric measurement of released acrosin activity might serve as a reasonable alternative method to evaluate AR.

Acrosin ; physiology ; Acrosome Reaction ; Adult ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Semen ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; physiology

More and more study on the epididymal function and sperm maturation has shown that epididymis will be one of the best target organs of male contraception, although at present there is not a male contraceptive medicine based on epididymis for clinical practice. The promoting research aspects in epididymal contraception in animal included affecting directly epididymis (such as Sulpasalazine), interfering energy metabolism and sperm mobility (such as Chlorinated Glycerol), altering the internal environment of epididymis (such as copper particles and TW19). The epididymal specific proteins could bring out some new target antigens for immunological contraception, to produce contraceptive vaccine. Some special genes, which expressed distinctively in epididymis such as SC342, bin1, have been cloned and studied on their function. These works would be helpful not only for clinical diagnosis and treatment of epididymitis and male infertility, but also for male contraceptive research and progress.
Contraception ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Maturation ; drug effects ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of inhaled anesthetics on human sperm motility in vitro.

METHODSSperm samples were obtained from 20 healthy men by masturbation and prepared by the swim-up technique. The effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane at the clinical concentration (1.4%-5.6%) and high concentration (5.6%-84%) on human sperm motility in vitro were observed at 25 degrees C by the computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).

RESULTSThe sperm vitality and motility were significantly increased on 0.5-4 h exposure to isoflurane at the clinical concentration and decreased gradually at high concentration (42%-84%). The effect of isoflurane on human sperm motility and vitality at the clinical concentration was reversible when the anesthetic withdrawn. Sevoflurane had no effects on human sperm motility and vitality at either the clinical or high concentration.

CONCLUSIONIsoflurane has a reversible increasing effect at the clinical concentration and a significant decreasing effect at the high concentration on the motility and vitality of human sperm, while sevoflurane does not affect human sperm motility and vitality at either concentration.

Adult ; Anesthetics, Inhalation ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoflurane ; pharmacology ; Male ; Methyl Ethers ; pharmacology ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology

AIMTo evaluate the effect of acute lead chloride exposure on testis and sperm parameters in mice.

METHODSPbCl2, 74 mg/kg, was daily administered to sexually mature male mice for 3 days and the effects on the testicular histology and ultrastructure as well as the motility and density of spermatozoa in cauda epididymis were observed. An additional group of mice were treated for 1-3 days and were allowed to recover for 32 days to determine the reversibility of lead-induced changes.

RESULTSThe testicular weight, seminiferous tubular diameter and sperm counts were significantly decreased following 3 days of PbCl2 treatment, but were unaffected by shorter-term exposures. The changes caused by lead are mostly reversible.

CONCLUSIONAcute lead chloride exposure injures the fertility parameters of male mice and the effects are partially reversible.

Animals ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Lead ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron ; Sexual Maturation ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; drug effects ; ultrastructure

Objective: To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of Yijingfang, a Chinese medicinal liquid, on asthenospermia. METHODS: We randomly divided 450 asthenospermia patients into a treatment group (n = 300) and a control group (n = 150), the former treated with Yijingfang once half a dose, bid, and the latter with Wuziyanzong Pills (9 g, bid) + L-carnitine oral liquid (10 ml, bid), both for 3 months. Before and at 1, 2, and 3 months after medication, we compared the semen volume, sperm concentration, percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and total motile sperm (TMS), and semen liquefaction time between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed in the semen parameters between the treatment and control groups before medication (P >0.05). In comparison with the baseline, the treatment group showed significant differences at 1, 2, and 3 months after medication in sperm concentration (［35.96 ± 8.50］ vs ［49.66 ± 10.91］, ［55.21 ± 11.46］, ［74.90 ± 13.07］ ×10⁶/ml, P <0.01), PMS (［19.72 ± 2.06］ vs ［23.81 ± 2.56］, ［26.12 ± 2.34］, and ［32.17 ± 1.62］ %, P <0.01) and TMS (［28.86 ± 2.70］ vs ［34.17 ± 3.43］, ［36.59 ± 3.36］, and ［47.08 ± 2.97］ %, P <0.01), but not in the semen volume (［3.35 ± 0.99］ vs ［3.15 ± 1.06］, ［3.12 ± 0.90］, and ［3.27 ± 0.78］ ml, P >0.05) or semen liquefaction time (［32.31 ± 8.15］ vs ［31.68 ± 3.14］, ［30.38 ± 3.44］, and ［30.86 ± 2.42］ min, P >0.05); the control group exhibited similar results at the three time points in sperm concentration (［36.85 ± 6.88］ vs ［40.53 ± 8.32］, ［47.51 ± 12.73］, and ［56.14 ± 11.98］ ×10⁶/ml, P <0.01), PMS (［20.26 ± 2.73］ vs ［25.17 ± 2.64］, ［27.23 ± 2.25］, and ［31.89±2.27］ %, P <0.01), and TMS (［30.03 ± 2.67］ vs ［33.89±2.26］, ［37.38±4.79］, and ［40.35±3.06］ %, P <0.01), but not in the semen volume (［3.03 ± 1.09］ vs ［3.16±1.78］, ［3.15±0.96］, and ［3.12±0.65］ ml, P >0.05) or semen liquefaction time (［30.25 ± 5.20］ vs ［29.36±4.25］, ［28.21±3.26］, and ［28.33±3.59］ min, P >0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the treatment and control groups in the increase rates of sperm concentration and TMS after medication (P <0.01) but not in that of PMS (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS Yijingfang is an effective drug for the treatment of asthenospermia, which can regulate the spermatogenesis, increase the percentage of PMS, and improve the total sperm motility of the patients.
Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sensitivity of human sperm survival bioassay to using known concentrations of potential toxin of formalin and to elevate the application value of human sperm motility assay as a quality control method in detecting the components used in IVF program.

METHODSFresh semen was obtained from healthy males at andrology laboratory by masturbation. Sperm was processed on a gradient column of isolate medium and PBS medium. In experiment 1, the medium with 0.25%, 0.75% concentration of formalin and control medium were added to the Falcon culture tubes containing HTF medium with or without 0.3% bovine albumin serum and with or without light mineral oil. In experiment 2, in 3 types of culture tubes containing HTF medium with or without 0.3% bovine albumin serum and with or without light mineral oil, the sperm was exposed to each culture tube and cultured for 24 and 48 hrs at room temperature, and the motile sperms were counted under the microscope.

RESULTSThe average sperm motility index in the HTF medium with 0.25% formalin at 24 hrs was 0.594 +/- 0.331, significantly higher than in the HTF medium with 0.75% formalin (0.450 +/- 0.284) (P < 0.01). In the medium containing 0.25% and 0.75% formalin with 0.3% bovine albumin serum and light mineral oil, the average sperm survival indexes were 0.683 +/- 0.334 and 0.527 +/- 0.345, respectively, higher than without bovine albumin serum and light mineral oil (0.394 +/- 0.311 and 0.424 +/- 0.311). The average sperm index of 7 ml tissue culture tube made in Denmark was 0.677 +/- 0.335, higher than the other two types of culture tubes made in the USA (0.551 +/- 0.317 and 0.596 +/- 0.327) (P < 0.001). When the sperm cultured in the medium with 0.3% bovine albumin serum and light mineral oil, the average sperm survival indexes were 0.821 +/- 0.259 and 0.645 +/- 0.335, respectively, higher than without bovine albumin serum or light mineral oil (0.571 +/- 0.321 and 0.395 +/- 0.245) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe sperm survival bioassay is a sensitivity quality control method to detect the components in the IVF laboratory. The 7 ml tissue culture tube made in Denmark is most suitable for culturing human embryos. Sperm can be protected when cultured in the medium with 0.3% albumin bovine serum and light mineral oil.

Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo Transfer ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Formaldehyde ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Quality Control ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of uPA improving sperm capacitation by investigating the effect of uPA on the mitochondrial function of mouse capacitated-sperm in vitro.

METHODSMitochondrial function of mouse capacitated-spermatozoa was evaluated through the assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential using JC-1 performed by flow cytometer and fluorescent microscope respectively. The experiment and the control groups were designed according to the presence or absence of uPA, each divided into 5 subgroups based on the different time of uPA treatment (or BWW in the control groups) at 0, 5, 15, 30 and 60 min respectively.

RESULTS(1) Compared with that at 0 min, the mean fluorescence intensity of JC-1 within the spermatozoal body and the percentage of orange-red colored spermatozoa in the experiment group were increased significantly at 5 and 15 min respectively after uPA incubation (P < 0.05). (2) The mean fluorescence intensity of JC-1 within the spermatozoal body at 15, 30 and 60 min and the percentage of orange-red colored spermatozoa at 5 and 15 min in the group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONuPA could increase the mitochondrial membrane potential of mouse capacitated-spermatozoa in vitro, and maintain it at a high level for a certain period of time. By enhancing sperm mitochondrial function, uPA may provide sufficient energy for capacitated-spermatozoa to increase their motility and change their motor pattern, which might be one of the therapeutic mechanisms of uPA on male infertility.

Animals ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Sperm Capacitation ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; pharmacology