Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care (Jan 2017)

Relationship of antioxidant system and reactive oxygen species with clinical semen parameters in infertile men

  • Gajendra Tomar,
  • Tulika Joshi,
  • Alex Varghes,
  • Suresh Sasidharan,
  • Moolraj R Kural

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.222051
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 3
pp. 574 – 577

Abstract

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Aims and Objectives: To determine the correlation of antioxidant system and reactive oxygen species with clinical parameters in infertile semen samples. Materials and Methods: Semen sample of fifty infertile men were divided into three groups: (1) Group I - Normospermic (count> 15 million/ml), Group II - Asthenospermic (motility 7.2 (25 samples) and Group V - Semen pH <7.2 (25 samples). The grouping was based on the WHO guideline for semen analysis (12). The semen antioxidant parameters like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) (spectrophotometric method Kornberg and Horecker, 1955). Catalase (Maehly and Chance 1954), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) (Rotruck method), glutathione (GSH) (dithiobisnitro-benzoate method), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (direct method), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay kit method) were investigated. Mann–Whitney U-test was applied to compare the findings. Results: Of fifty semen samples there were 12 normospermic (sperm concentration ≥15 × 106/ml of ejaculates), 24 asthenospermic (sperm motility ≤32%), and 14 oligospermic (sperm concentration ≤15 × 106/ml of ejaculates) subjects. Results suggested that all asthenospermic males were found to have reduced motility and viability when compared with normospermic and oligospermic subjects. Activity of antioxidant parameters such as G-6-PDH, GPX, GSH, and SOD was decreased in case of asthenospermic subjects. The concentration of MDA was increased significantly (P < 0.001) in semen of asthenospermic subjects compared to normospermic and oligospermic subjects. Conclusion: The current study concludes that there is a significant relationship of ROS and semen parameters. Further studies will be needed in such subjects regarding role of effectiveness of dietary antioxidants in improving semen qualities.

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