A growing number of researches have shown that ouabain can regulate mammalian sperm function and male reproduction by modulating the sperm motility,capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro.This study further examin...A growing number of researches have shown that ouabain can regulate mammalian sperm function and male reproduction by modulating the sperm motility,capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro.This study further examined the relationship between ouabain and asthenozoospermia.In this study,the rat was intraperitoneally injected with ouabain at different concentrations(low-dose ouabain group:12.5μg/kg body weight per day,and high-dose ouabain group:25μg/kg body weight per day)for 30 days to establish the asthenozoospermia model.The sperms from 60 males with normal fertility were incubated with ouabain of gradient concentrations(10-7–10-2mol/L)for 4 h.The sperm motility was evaluated under a microscope.Moreover,the endogenous ouabain(EO)level was determined in seminal plasma of mild or severe asthenozoospermia patients and males with normal fertility by competitive inhibition ELISA.The results showed that the sperm motility was significantly diminished in the rats treated with different concentrations of ouabain.The number of motile sperms(grades a and b)was decreased greatly in a time-and dose-dependent manner in 10-5–10-2mol/L ouabain groups(P<0.01),while no obvious change in sperm motility was observed in 10-7–10-6mol/L groups even for4-h incubation(P>0.05).Furthermore,the EO level was significantly increased in asthenozoospermia patients as compared with that in males with normal fertility(25.27±1.71μg/L in mild asthenozoospermia patients,26.52±1.82μg/L in severe asthenozoospermia patients,19.31±1.45μg/L in normal fertility men)(P<0.01).In conclusion,rat asthenozoospermia was successfully established by intraperitoneal injection of ouabain,and 10-5mol/L ouabain was sufficient enough to inhibit sperm motility in vitro.Moreover,EO,a normal constituent of seminal plasma,was highly expressed in asthenozoospermia males as compared with normal fertility ones.展开更多
Objective:The relationship between mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)polymorphisms and abnormalities in sperm quality has been the subject of several studies,with the objective of improving the treatment of male infertility.Thi...Objective:The relationship between mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)polymorphisms and abnormalities in sperm quality has been the subject of several studies,with the objective of improving the treatment of male infertility.This study,which contributes to the identification of genetic markers of sperm abnormalities,was conducted to study mtDNA mutations in the asthenozoospermia profile.Methods:This case-control study included 30 patients with asthenozoospermia and 28 with normospermia after spermogram and spermocytogram analyses.After the extraction of total DNA from the spermatozoa of 58 ejaculates from these individuals using the phenol-chloroform method,the amplification of genes of interest in mtDNA using specific primers was performed by conventional polymerase chain reaction,and sequencing was used to detect mutations.Results:Male patients with asthenozoospermia in the tertiary sector had significantly more mutant-than wild-type(P=0.0005)MT-CO II genes.Similarly,for the same gene,males with asthenozoospermia and primary infertility had significantly more mutants than the wild-type(P=0.001).Sequencing revealed 29 mutations that were observed only with asthenozoospermia,which could be the basis for low sperm mobility.Conclusion:This study identified several mutations in mtDNA genes that could be considered genetic markers of asthenozoospermia if confirmed in a deeper study.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of the Chinese medicine(CM)Qixiong Zhongzi Decoction(芪芎种子汤,QZD)in the treatment of patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia.Methods:A total number of ...Objective:To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of the Chinese medicine(CM)Qixiong Zhongzi Decoction(芪芎种子汤,QZD)in the treatment of patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia.Methods:A total number of 66 patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were included and randomly divided into treatment and control groups by SAS-generated code from January 2015 to August 2016,33 patients in each group.Patients in the treatment group were administered with 150 m L of QZD twice a day,whereas those in the control group were given 1 g of levocarnitine oral liquid twice a day.The two groups received the indicated medication for 12 weeks and were then followed up for 4 weeks.The primary outcome was sperm motility,and the secondary therapeutic indices were sperm volume,density,pregnancy probability,and CM syndrome score.The comparison between groups was carried out at 4,8 and 12 weeks,respectively.The safety was determined before and after treatment.Results:(1)Drop-off:5 cases(7.58%)were lost after treatment(2 from the treatment group and 3 from the control group).(2)Primary outcomes:after 8-and 12-week treatment,the progressive sperms in the two groups were significantly higher than the baseline(all P<0.05);however,the treatment group showed greater improvement compared with the control group at 12-week treatment(22.7%±9.0%vs.14.1%±8.8%,P<0.05).The increasement of non-progressive grade sperms at both groups was observed at 8-and 12-week treatment with statistical difference(all P<0.05),however,the treatment group showed remarkable improvement compared with the control group at 12-week treatment(38.7%±14.1%vs.26.2%±15.4%,P<0.05).(3)Secondary outcomes:no significant statistical differences were found in semen volume and density(4,8,and 12-week treatment)and pregnancy probability of patients’wives(12-week treatment)between two groups(all P>0.05),however,the CM syndrome score of the treatment group significantly declined compared with baseline level at each time points(all P<0.05).(4)Safety:no obvious side reactions were found during the treatment in both groups.Conclusions:QZD could improve the progressive and non-progressive grade sperm in the treatment of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.It is safe with no obvious side effects.展开更多
Idiopathic asthenozoospermia,a common factor in male infertility,is characterized by altered sperm motility function in fresh ejaculate.Although theβ-defensin 126(DEFB126)protein is associated with asthenozoospermia,...Idiopathic asthenozoospermia,a common factor in male infertility,is characterized by altered sperm motility function in fresh ejaculate.Although theβ-defensin 126(DEFB126)protein is associated with asthenozoospermia,DEFB126 gene polymorphisms have not been extensively studied.Therefore,the association between DEFB126 gene polymorphisms and asthenozoospermia requires further investigation.Screening was performed by semen analysis,karyotype analysis,and Y microdeletion detection,and 102 fertile men and 106 men with asthenozoospermia in Chengdu,China,were selected for DEFB126 gene sequence analyses.Seven nucleotide mutations and two nucleotide deletions in the DEFB126 gene were detected.rs11467417(317-318 del/del),rs11467497(163-166 wt/del),c.152T>C,and c.227A>G were significantly different between the control and asthenozoospermia groups,likely representing high-risk genetic factors for asthenozoospermia among males.DEFB126 expression was not observed in sperm with rs11467497 homozygous deletion and was unstable in sperm with rs11467417 homozygous deletion.The rs11467497 four-nucleotide deletion leads to truncation of DEFB126 at the carboxy-terminus,and the rs11467417 binucleotide deletion produces a non-stop messenger RNA(mRNA).The above deletions may be responsible for male hypofertility and infertility by reducing DEFB126 affinity to sperm surfaces.Based on in silico analysis,the amino acids 51M and 76K are located in the highly conserved domain;c.152T>C(M51T)and c.227A>G(K76R)are predicted to be damaging and capable of changing alternative splice,structural and posttranslational modification sites of the RNA,as well as the secondary structure,structural stability,and hydrophobicity of the protein,suggesting that these mutations are associated with asthenozoospermia.展开更多
Introduction: D-Aspartate is an endogenous amino acid involved in LH and testosterone release in humans. In this study we investigate the impact of nutritional supplementation of sodium D-aspartate on the improvement ...Introduction: D-Aspartate is an endogenous amino acid involved in LH and testosterone release in humans. In this study we investigate the impact of nutritional supplementation of sodium D-aspartate on the improvement of sperm quality in sub-fertile patients and the rate of pregnancies that occurred with their partners. Materials and Methods: A group of 30 patients affected by oligo-asthenozoospermia and a group of 30 patients affected by asthenozoospermia were treated with a daily dose of sodium D-aspartate for 90 days. After which, the change in spermatozoa concentration and their motility and the pregnancies that occurred with their partners were recorded. Results: We found that the supplementation of D-aspartate significantly increased the concentration and the motility of spermatozoa. In oligo- asthenozoospermic patients the increase of sperm concentration was found to be 2.0-fold, P Conclusions:Treatment of sub-fertile patients with sodium D-aspartate improved the number and the motility of the spermatozoa and consequently improved the rate of pregnancies of their partners.展开更多
基金supported by 2012 Independence Innovation Foundation of Huazhong University of Science and Technology(No.01-18-519003)
文摘A growing number of researches have shown that ouabain can regulate mammalian sperm function and male reproduction by modulating the sperm motility,capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro.This study further examined the relationship between ouabain and asthenozoospermia.In this study,the rat was intraperitoneally injected with ouabain at different concentrations(low-dose ouabain group:12.5μg/kg body weight per day,and high-dose ouabain group:25μg/kg body weight per day)for 30 days to establish the asthenozoospermia model.The sperms from 60 males with normal fertility were incubated with ouabain of gradient concentrations(10-7–10-2mol/L)for 4 h.The sperm motility was evaluated under a microscope.Moreover,the endogenous ouabain(EO)level was determined in seminal plasma of mild or severe asthenozoospermia patients and males with normal fertility by competitive inhibition ELISA.The results showed that the sperm motility was significantly diminished in the rats treated with different concentrations of ouabain.The number of motile sperms(grades a and b)was decreased greatly in a time-and dose-dependent manner in 10-5–10-2mol/L ouabain groups(P<0.01),while no obvious change in sperm motility was observed in 10-7–10-6mol/L groups even for4-h incubation(P>0.05).Furthermore,the EO level was significantly increased in asthenozoospermia patients as compared with that in males with normal fertility(25.27±1.71μg/L in mild asthenozoospermia patients,26.52±1.82μg/L in severe asthenozoospermia patients,19.31±1.45μg/L in normal fertility men)(P<0.01).In conclusion,rat asthenozoospermia was successfully established by intraperitoneal injection of ouabain,and 10-5mol/L ouabain was sufficient enough to inhibit sperm motility in vitro.Moreover,EO,a normal constituent of seminal plasma,was highly expressed in asthenozoospermia males as compared with normal fertility ones.
文摘Objective:The relationship between mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)polymorphisms and abnormalities in sperm quality has been the subject of several studies,with the objective of improving the treatment of male infertility.This study,which contributes to the identification of genetic markers of sperm abnormalities,was conducted to study mtDNA mutations in the asthenozoospermia profile.Methods:This case-control study included 30 patients with asthenozoospermia and 28 with normospermia after spermogram and spermocytogram analyses.After the extraction of total DNA from the spermatozoa of 58 ejaculates from these individuals using the phenol-chloroform method,the amplification of genes of interest in mtDNA using specific primers was performed by conventional polymerase chain reaction,and sequencing was used to detect mutations.Results:Male patients with asthenozoospermia in the tertiary sector had significantly more mutant-than wild-type(P=0.0005)MT-CO II genes.Similarly,for the same gene,males with asthenozoospermia and primary infertility had significantly more mutants than the wild-type(P=0.001).Sequencing revealed 29 mutations that were observed only with asthenozoospermia,which could be the basis for low sperm mobility.Conclusion:This study identified several mutations in mtDNA genes that could be considered genetic markers of asthenozoospermia if confirmed in a deeper study.
基金Supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Public Welfare Research Institutes(No.ZZ070855)
文摘Objective:To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of the Chinese medicine(CM)Qixiong Zhongzi Decoction(芪芎种子汤,QZD)in the treatment of patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia.Methods:A total number of 66 patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were included and randomly divided into treatment and control groups by SAS-generated code from January 2015 to August 2016,33 patients in each group.Patients in the treatment group were administered with 150 m L of QZD twice a day,whereas those in the control group were given 1 g of levocarnitine oral liquid twice a day.The two groups received the indicated medication for 12 weeks and were then followed up for 4 weeks.The primary outcome was sperm motility,and the secondary therapeutic indices were sperm volume,density,pregnancy probability,and CM syndrome score.The comparison between groups was carried out at 4,8 and 12 weeks,respectively.The safety was determined before and after treatment.Results:(1)Drop-off:5 cases(7.58%)were lost after treatment(2 from the treatment group and 3 from the control group).(2)Primary outcomes:after 8-and 12-week treatment,the progressive sperms in the two groups were significantly higher than the baseline(all P<0.05);however,the treatment group showed greater improvement compared with the control group at 12-week treatment(22.7%±9.0%vs.14.1%±8.8%,P<0.05).The increasement of non-progressive grade sperms at both groups was observed at 8-and 12-week treatment with statistical difference(all P<0.05),however,the treatment group showed remarkable improvement compared with the control group at 12-week treatment(38.7%±14.1%vs.26.2%±15.4%,P<0.05).(3)Secondary outcomes:no significant statistical differences were found in semen volume and density(4,8,and 12-week treatment)and pregnancy probability of patients’wives(12-week treatment)between two groups(all P>0.05),however,the CM syndrome score of the treatment group significantly declined compared with baseline level at each time points(all P<0.05).(4)Safety:no obvious side reactions were found during the treatment in both groups.Conclusions:QZD could improve the progressive and non-progressive grade sperm in the treatment of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.It is safe with no obvious side effects.
文摘Idiopathic asthenozoospermia,a common factor in male infertility,is characterized by altered sperm motility function in fresh ejaculate.Although theβ-defensin 126(DEFB126)protein is associated with asthenozoospermia,DEFB126 gene polymorphisms have not been extensively studied.Therefore,the association between DEFB126 gene polymorphisms and asthenozoospermia requires further investigation.Screening was performed by semen analysis,karyotype analysis,and Y microdeletion detection,and 102 fertile men and 106 men with asthenozoospermia in Chengdu,China,were selected for DEFB126 gene sequence analyses.Seven nucleotide mutations and two nucleotide deletions in the DEFB126 gene were detected.rs11467417(317-318 del/del),rs11467497(163-166 wt/del),c.152T>C,and c.227A>G were significantly different between the control and asthenozoospermia groups,likely representing high-risk genetic factors for asthenozoospermia among males.DEFB126 expression was not observed in sperm with rs11467497 homozygous deletion and was unstable in sperm with rs11467417 homozygous deletion.The rs11467497 four-nucleotide deletion leads to truncation of DEFB126 at the carboxy-terminus,and the rs11467417 binucleotide deletion produces a non-stop messenger RNA(mRNA).The above deletions may be responsible for male hypofertility and infertility by reducing DEFB126 affinity to sperm surfaces.Based on in silico analysis,the amino acids 51M and 76K are located in the highly conserved domain;c.152T>C(M51T)and c.227A>G(K76R)are predicted to be damaging and capable of changing alternative splice,structural and posttranslational modification sites of the RNA,as well as the secondary structure,structural stability,and hydrophobicity of the protein,suggesting that these mutations are associated with asthenozoospermia.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grants （81430027 and 81671510 to FS 81501309 to GSW） and the National Basic Research Program of China （2014CB943100 to FS）.
文摘Introduction: D-Aspartate is an endogenous amino acid involved in LH and testosterone release in humans. In this study we investigate the impact of nutritional supplementation of sodium D-aspartate on the improvement of sperm quality in sub-fertile patients and the rate of pregnancies that occurred with their partners. Materials and Methods: A group of 30 patients affected by oligo-asthenozoospermia and a group of 30 patients affected by asthenozoospermia were treated with a daily dose of sodium D-aspartate for 90 days. After which, the change in spermatozoa concentration and their motility and the pregnancies that occurred with their partners were recorded. Results: We found that the supplementation of D-aspartate significantly increased the concentration and the motility of spermatozoa. In oligo- asthenozoospermic patients the increase of sperm concentration was found to be 2.0-fold, P Conclusions:Treatment of sub-fertile patients with sodium D-aspartate improved the number and the motility of the spermatozoa and consequently improved the rate of pregnancies of their partners.
