Correlations of Sperm Mitochondrial Membrane Potential with Semen Parameters and Male Obesity

Abstract

Background: To investigate the correlations of sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) with semen parameters and body mass index (BMI) in males with obesity. Methods: Semen samples were obtained by masturbation after 3–7 days of sexual abstinence from males who visited semen collect room of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital. Conventional semen analyses were performed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), and sperm morphology was analyzed by modified Papanicolaou staining. Spermatozoa were stained by JC-1 to evaluate MMP through flow cytometry. Results: Sperm MMP of asthenozoospermia group (41.24% ± 9.71%) was significantly lower than that in control group (56.68% ± 11.13%). MMP was negatively correlated with BMI (r = −0.25, P < 0.01), but positively correlated with total sperm motility (r = 0.63, P < 0.01), motility of progressive sperm (r = 0.64, P < 0.01), and normal sperm morphology rate (r = 0.37, P < 0.01). In addition, MMP showed no significant correlations with age, volume of semen, sperm concentration, sperm count, and other indexes. Conclusions: Sperm MMP is an important index in the evaluation of sperm function, and detection of MMP may provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

Keywords

• Body Mass Index; Conventional Semen Analyses; JC-1; Mitochondrial Membrane Potential