Seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone level correlates with semen parameters but does not predict success of testicular sperm extraction （TESE）

Aim： To assess seminal plasma anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH） level relationships in fertile and infertile males. Methods： Eighty-four male cases were studied and divided into four groups： fertile normozoospermia （n = 16）, oligoastheno- teratozoospermia （n = 15）, obstructive azoospermia （OA） （n = 13） and non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA） （n = 40）. Conventional semen analysis was done for all cases. Testicular biopsy was done with histopathology and fresh tissue examination for testicular sperm extraction （TESE） in NOA cases. NOA group was subdivided according to TESE results into unsuccessful TESE （n = 19） and successful TESE （n = 21）. Seminal plasma AMH was estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and serum follicular stimulating hormone （FSH） was estimated in NOA cases only by radioimmunoassay （RIA）. Results： Mean seminal AMH was significantly higher in fertile group than in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with significance （41.5±10.9 pmol/L vs. 30.5±10.3 pmol/L, P 〈 0.05）. Seminal AMH was not detected in any OA patients. Seminal AMH wascorrelated positively with testicular volume （r = 0.329, P = 0.005）, sperm count （r = 0.483, P = 0.007）, sperm motility percent （r = 0.419, P = 0.021） and negatively with sperm abnormal forms percent （r = -0.413, p = 0.023）. Nonsignificant correlation was evident with age （r = -0.155, P = 0.414） and plasma FSH （ r = -0.014, P = 0.943）. In NOA cases, seminal AMH was detectable in 23/40 cases, 14 of them were successful TESE （57.5%） and was undetectable in 17/40 cases, 10 of them were unsuccessful TESE （58.2%）. Conclusion： Seminal plasma AMH is an absolute testicular marker being absent in all OA cases. However, seminal AMH has a poor predictability for successful testicular sperm retrieval in NOA cases.

Proteomic analysis of seminal plasma from asthenozoospermia patients reveals proteins that affect oxidative stress responses and semen quality

Asthenozoospermia （AS） is a common cause of human male infertility. In one study, more than 80% of the samples from infertile men had reduced sperm motility. Seminal plasma is a mixture of secretions from the testis, epididymis and several male accessory glands, including the prostate, seminal vesicles and Cowper＇s gland. Studies have shown that seminal plasma contains proteins that are important for sperm motility. To further explore the pathophysiological character of AS, we separated the seminal plasma proteins from AS patients and healthy donors using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in-gel digestion, and then subjected the proteins to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS） analysis. A total of 741 proteins were identified in the seminal plasma, with a false discovery rate of 3.3%. Using spectral counting, we found that 45 proteins were threefold upregulated and 56 proteins were threefold downregulated in the AS group when compared with the control. Most of these proteins originated from the epididymis and prostate. This study identified a rich source of biomarker candidates for male infertility and indicates that functional abnormalities of the epididymis and prostate can contribute to AS. We identified D J-1--a protein that has been shown elsewhere to be involved in the control of oxidative stress （OS）-as a downregulated protein in AS seminal plasma. The levels of D J-1 in AS seminal plasma were about half of those in the control samples. In addition, the levels of reactive oxygen species were 3.3-fold higher in the AS samples than in the controls. Taken together, these data suggest that downregulation of DJ-1 is involved in OS in semen, and therefore affects the quality of the semen.

Quick recovery and characterization of cell-free DNA in seminal plasma of normozoospermia and azoospermia： implications for non-invasive genetic utilities

We established a quick and reliable method for recovering cell-free seminal DNA （cfsDNA）, by using the binding-washing-elution procedure on the DNA purification column. Low variations （below 15%） among the triplicate values of cfsDNA quantity verified the reproducibility of our cfsDNA recovery method. Similar cfsDNA yield and size distribution between seminal plasma acquired by filtration and centrifugation confirmed the presence of cfsDNA. To investigate the general characterization of cfsDNA, the quantitation and size distribution of cfsDNA from normozoospermic and azoospermic semen were analyzed by real-time PCR and electrophoresis, respectively. CfsDNA concentration in semen with normozoospermia （n = 11） was 1.34 ± 0.65 μg ·mL^-1, whereas a higher cfsDNA concentration was observed in azoospermia （2.56 ± 1.43 μg ·mL^-1, n = 9）. The continuous distribution of DNA fragments ranging from -1 kb to 15 kb and a spectrum of multiples of 180-bp fragments were observed in each normozoospermic and azoospermic sample. Distinct characteristic DNA ladder fragmentations in some azoospermic samples implicated that cfsDNA originate partly from apoptotic cells. CfsDNAs of 36 selected azoospermic patients with known information of Y chromosome microdeletion were subjected to the same microdeletion analysis by multiplex PCR and PCR amplification of sY114 （1 450 bp）. All multiplex PCR reactions with cfsDNA amplified successfully and provided the same result as leukocyte DNA. PCR amplification of sY114 gave a 1 450-bp amplicon as expected. Our data suggested the potential use of cfsDNA in search of biomarker or diagnostic procedures.

Evaluation of deoxyribonuclease activity in seminal plasmaof ejaculated chicken semen

Aim: To confirm the stability of exogenous genes in the generation of transgenic chickens using ejaculated chicken sperm, the deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity was evaluated in the seminal plasma of ejaculated semen and the stability of DNA was examined by adding lipofection reagents. Methods: A PCR fragment (249 bp) of pEGFPN-1 vector was used as the DNA substrate and was incubated with the seminal plasma at 40 ℃ for 30 min. Then, the whole reaction solution was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and the DNA size was evaluated under UV light. Results: The DNA substrate was completely diminished after incubation with seminal plasma. However, the substrate was intact after incubation with heat-treated seminal plasma or incubation with seminal plasma in the presence of 0.5 mmol/L -5 mmol/L EDTA. The substrate was stabilized in the seminal plasma by the addition of commercially available lipofection reagents. Conclusion: The DNase activity is present in the seminal plasma of ejaculated chicken semen. However, DNA is stable in the liposomal-DNA complex.

Beta-endorphin in serum and seminal plasma in infertile men

Aim： To access beta-endorphin levels in serum as well as seminal plasma in different infertile male groups. Methods： Beta-endorphin was estimated in the serum and seminal plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method in 80 infertile men equally divided into four groups： non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA）, obstructive azoospermia （OA）, congenital bilateral absent vas deferens （CBVAD） and asthenozoospermia. The results were compared to those of 20 normozoospermic proven fertile men. Results： There was a decrease in the mean levels of betaendorphin in the seminal plasma of all successive infertile groups （mean ± SD： NOA 51.30 ± 27.37, OA 51.88 ± 9.47, CBAVD 20.36 ± 13.39, asthenozoospermia 49.26 ± 12.49 pg/mL, respectively） compared to the normozoospermic fertile control （87.23 ± 29.55 pg/mL）. This relation was not present in mean serum level of beta-endorphin between four infertile groups （51.09 ± 14.71, 49.76 ± 12.4, 33.96 ± 7.2, 69.1 ± 16.57 pg/mL, respectively） and the fertile control group （49.26 ± 31.32 pg/mL）. The CBVAD group showed the lowest seminal plasma mean level of beta-endorphin. Testicular contribution of seminal beta-endorphin was estimated to be approximately 40%. Seminal beta-endorphin showed significant correlation with the sperm concentration （r = 0.699, P = 0.0188） and nonsignificant correlation with its serum level （r = 0.375, P = 0.185） or with the sperm motility percentage （r = 0.470, P = 0.899）. Conclusion： The estimation of beta-endorphin alone is not conclusive to evaluate male reproduction as there are many other opiates acting at the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.

Oxytocin in pig seminal plasma is positively related with in vivo fertility of inseminated sows

Background:Identification of relevant in vivo biomarkers for fertility remains a challenge for the livestock industry.Concentrations of the small peptide hormone oxytocin(OXT),involved in male reproductive function and present in the seminal plasma(SP)of several species could be a robust one.This study characterized concentrations of SPOXT in ejaculates from boars used in artificial insemination(AI)programs aiming to evaluate its relationship with sperm quality variables and in vivo fertility of their liquid-stored AI-semen.Seminal OXT concentrations(ng/mL)were measured in 169 ejaculates from 61 boars of the Duroc,Pietrain,Landrace and Large White breeds using a direct competitive immunoassay test based on AlphaLISA®technology.Ejaculate(ejaculate volume,sperm concentration,total sperm count)and sperm parameters(motility,viability,intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species,plasma membrane fluidity)were assessed at 0 h and 72 h in AI-semen samples stored at 17℃.In vivo fertility included only 18 Large White and Landrace boars whose AI-semen was used to inseminated>100 sows and evaluated both farrowing rate and litter size of 3,167 sows.Results:The results showed that SP-OXT differed between boars and between ejaculates within boar(P<0.05)but not between breeds(Duroc,Pietrain,Landrace and Large White).Ejaculates with higher SP-OXT concentration/mL(hierarchically grouped;P<0.001)had larger volume and came from younger boars(P<0.05).Ejaculates of boars showing positive farrowing rate deviation exhibited higher(P<0.05)SP-OXT concentration/mL than those with negative farrowing rate deviation.Conclusion:The SP concentrations of OXT are boar,ejaculate and age dependent,and positively related with ejaculate volume and farrowing rates of liquid-stored semen AI-doses.

Assessment of seminal plasma laminin in fertile and infertile men

Aim： To assess laminin levels in the seminal plasma of infertile and fertile men, and to analyze the correlation of laminin levels with sperm count, age, sperm motility and semen volume. Methods： One hundred and twenty-five recruited men were equally divided into five groups according to their sperm concentration and clinical examination： fertile normozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA）, obstructive azoospermia （OA） and congenital bilateral absent vas deferens （CBAVD）. The patients＇ medical history was investigated and patients underwent clinical examination, conventional semen analysis and estimation of seminal plasma laminin by radioimmunoassay. Results： Seminal plasma laminin levels of successive groups were： 2.82 ± 0.62, 2.49 ± 0.44, 1.77 ± 0.56, 1.72 ± 0.76, 1.35 ± 0.63 U/mL, respectively. The fertile normozoospermic group showed the highest concentration compared to all infertile groups with significant differences compared to azoospermic groups （P 〈 0.05）. Testicular contribution was estimated to be approximately one-third of the seminal laminin. Seminal plasma laminin demonstrated significant correlation with sperm concentration （r = 0.460, P 〈 0.001） and nonsignificant correlation with age （r = 0.021, P = 0.940）, sperm motility percentage （r = 0.142, P = 0.615） and semen volume （r = 0.035, P = 0.087）. Conelusion： Seminal plasma laminin is derived mostly from prostatic and testicular portions and minimally from the seminal vesicle and vas deferens. Estimating seminal laminin alone is not conclusive in diagnosing different cases of male infertility.

Cytokines in Human Seminal Plasma and Their Effect on Male Fertility

Cytokines are a heterogeneous group of peptides that play an important role in intercellular communication, regulation of innate and specific immunity, hematopoiesis, interaction between the immune system and neuroendocrine network as well as in reproduction and development. Seminal plasma provides an immunological environ- ment for the semen and contains important biological response mediators. Numerous studies investigated the presence of various cytokines in the seminal plasma and tried to correlate cytokine levels with sperm quality and male fertility. However, the patho- physiological significance of seminal cytokines in sperm function is still not completely understood. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief summary of the extensive literature dealing with cytokines in the seminal plasma and to discuss the contribution of local cytokine immunity to male fertility.

Characterization of proteins in cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved seminal plasma of dairy bulls of dif-fering fertility

Seminal plasma is composed of secretions from accessory sex glands, which are mixed with sperm at ejaculation and contribute the majority of semen volume. Seminal plasma is considered a transport and support medium for sperm in the female reproductive tract. Because seminal plasma is not required for fertilization, the importance of its constituents to the establishment of normal pregnancy has been overlooked. Four seminal plasma proteins, Osteopontin, Sper-madhesin Z13, BSP 30 kDa and Phospholipase A2, have been identified as markers of fertility in dairy bulls (Cancel et al., 1997;Moura et al., 2006, 2007). The objective of the present study was to characterize the expression patterns of these proteins and other proteins found to be of interest in seminal plasma of cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved bull semen. Seminal plasma samples were obtained from 16 mature Hol-stein-Friesian bulls at Select Sires Inc. Samples were divided into two groups based on assigned fertility score expressed as the percentage point deviation (PD) of the bull’s non-return rate (NRR) from the average NRR of all bulls in the Select Sires Inc. reproductive management program. Group 1 (high fertility bulls, n = 8) 1.9 ≤ PD ≤ 2.7%, and group 2 (low fertility bulls, n = 8) -6.5 ≤ PD ≤ 1.8 %. Additionally, the samples were categorized as processed (cryopreserved) or unprocessed (non-cryopreserved) for protein analysis. Protein expression was analyzed by 2-D fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGETM). Protein spots were picked from a reference gel, analyzed by mass spectrometry and, subsequently identified by MS/MS ion searches performed on the SwissProt database. Protein expression did not differ (P > 0.05) with fertility grouping but displayed two distinct patterns among the processing groups: majority of the functional proteins were highly expressed in seminal plasma of non-cryopreserved semen while the cryopreserved semen contained mainly structural/extender derived proteins. Functional proteins identified included Spermadhesin Z13, BSP A1/2, BSP 30 kDa, Nucleobindin-1 and metalloproteinase inhibitor 2. Some of these proteins have been identified as anti-fertility or fertility enhancing agents in males. Whether this alteration in protein expression after processing might affect semen fertility is worthy of further evaluation.

Metabolomic fingerprinting of pig seminal plasma identifies in vivo fertility biomarkers

Background:Metabolomic approaches,which include the study of low molecular weight molecules,are an emerging-omics technology useful for identification of biomarkers.In this field,nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy has already been used to uncover(in)fertility biomarkers in the seminal plasma(SP)of several mammalian species.However,NMR studies profiling the porcine SP metabolome to uncover in vivo fertility biomarkers are yet to be carried out.Thus,this study aimed to evaluate the putative relationship between SPmetabolites and in vivo fertility outcomes.To this end,24 entire ejaculates(three ejaculates per boar)were collected from artificial insemination(AI)-boars throughout a year(one ejaculate every 4 months).Immediately after collection,ejaculates were centrifuged to obtain SP-samples,which were stored for subsequent metabolomic analysis by NMR spectroscopy.Fertility outcomes from 1525 inseminations were recorded over a year,including farrowing rate,litter size,stillbirths per litter and the duration of pregnancy.Results:A total of 24 metabolites were identified and quantified in all SP-samples.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that lactate levels in SP had discriminative capacity for farrowing rate(area under the curve[AUC]=0.764)while carnitine(AUC=0.847),hypotaurine(AUC=0.819),sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine(AUC=0.833),glutamate(AUC=0.799)and glucose(AUC=0.750)showed it for litter size.Similarly,citrate(AUC=0.743),creatine(AUC=0.812),phenylalanine(AUC=0.750),tyrosine(AUC=0.753)and malonate(AUC=0.868)levels had discriminative capacity for stillbirths per litter;and malonate(AUC=0.767)and fumarate(AUC=0.868)levels for gestation length.Conclusions:The assessment of selected SP-metabolites in ejaculates through NMR spectroscopy could be considered as a promising non-invasive tool to predict in vivo fertility outcomes in pigs.Moreover,supplementing AI-doses with specific metabolites should also be envisaged as a way to improve their fertility potential.

Heparin-binding proteins from boar seminal plasma affecting the release of prostaglandins and interleukin-6 by porcine endometrial and cervical cells and bovine endometrial cells

The objectives of this study were to explore whether heparin-binding proteins, separated by fast protein liquid chromatography from boar seminal plasma influence the release of prostaglandins F2α, (PGF2α), E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by porcine endometrial and cervical cells and even bovine endometrial cells. In Experiment I, we showed that release of PGF2α by endometrial epithelial, endometrial stromal and cervical stromal cells to the medium was inhibited (p α (TNFα) stimulated release of IL-6 by endometrial and cervical stromal cells after 24 h incubation, but in the presence of heparin-binding proteins, this stimulation was attenuated. Release of PGF2α by cryopreserved (Experiment II) and primary (Experiment III) cervical stromal cells was significantly inhibited after 3 h incubation with 66 - 95.4 μg of heparin- binding proteins. A significant inhibition of PGE2 release by cryopreserved and primary cervical stromal cells was already achieved after incubation with 16.5 - 23.9 μg of heparin-binding proteins. The release of IL-6 by cryopreserved cells was stimulated after 3 h incubation with heparin- binding proteins in a dose dependent manner in contrast to the release of IL-6 by freshly isolated cervical stromal cells. We also found (Experiment IV) that porcine heparin-binding seminal plasma proteins inhibited release of PGF2α and stimulated release of IL-6 by bovine endometrial epithelial cells. In conclusion, a group of heparin-binding proteins separated by fast protein liquid chromatography from boar seminal plasma inhibit PGF2α, PGE2 and stimulate IL-6 release by porcine endometrial and cervical cells and even by bovine endometrial cells. Thus, these proteins have a similar effect as the entire seminal plasma.

Oxidants and Anti-Oxidants in Turbot Seminal Plasma and Their Effects on Sperm Quality

In this research, the concentration and activity of oxidants and anti-oxidants in turbot semen, and their effects on sperm quality were studied. The results showed that superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, glutathione reductase(GR), uric acid, vitamin E(VE) and vitamin C(VC) were more abundant in seminal plasma than in spermatozoa. The variation for each of them was specific. In seminal plasma, the activity of SOD and GR increased from November 15, November 30 to December 15, and then decreased on December 30. The concentrations of both VC and uric acid decreased during the first 3 sampling times and increased on December 30. The oxidants in seminal plasma accumulated to the highest on December 30. Lactic acid(LA) and ATP levels decreased to the lowest on December 30. The correlation analysis showed that GR had the significant positive relevance to sperm motility and VSL/VCL, while ·OH had negative relevance to them.

不同精液质量男性生殖激素水平与氧化应激的临床分析

目的分析不同精液质量男性生殖激素和抗氧化水平,探讨生殖激素及抗氧化对男性精液质量的影响。方法在北华大学附属医院生殖中心筛选28名单纯少精子症、36名单纯弱精子组和28名少弱精子症患者精液。精液分析按照世界卫生组织的标准进行。化学发光免疫法测定血清促卵泡生成素(FSH)、促黄体生成素、泌乳素、雌二醇、睾酮(T)浓度。黄嘌呤氧化酶法检测超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性,采用活性氧试剂盒检测精浆中活性氧(ROS)水平。结果不育组男性精液浓度、前向运动精子率、精子总活力和精子不活动率与对照组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。不育组患者血清中T浓度明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);少弱精症组中FSH明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。不育组SOD活力和ROS水平与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论睾酮合成下降与男性不育有关,少精、弱精、少弱精的重要原因可能是氧化应激中抗氧化剂与ROS的脂质过氧化损伤的不平衡。

男性不育患者精液质量与精浆微量元素水平及精浆外泌体miR-184水平的关系

目的探讨男性不育患者精液质量与精浆微量元素水平及精浆外泌体(exosome)miR-184水平的关系。方法选取2022年1月至2023年7月155例男性不育患者为不育组,另选同期155例男性体检正常者为正常组。比较两组一般资料、精液质量参数、微量元素、外泌体中miR-184水平,另通过Spearman秩相关分析男性不育患者与上述实验室指标的相关性。结果不育组精子浓度、精子总活力(PR+NP)、前向运动精子(PR)、精子平均曲线运动速度、精子平均直线运动速度、精子平均路径运动速度、精子头部侧向平均振幅(ALH)低于正常组(P<0.05);不育组Zn、Mg、Ca水平低于正常组,Cu、Pb水平及miR-184相对表达量高于正常组(P<0.05);男性不育患者Zn、Cu元素水平分别与精子浓度、精子总活力(PR+NP)、前向运动精子(PR)呈正、负相关,Pb元素水平与精子头部侧向平均振幅(ALH)呈负相关,且P<0.05。男性不育患者miR-184相对表达量与精子浓度、精子总活力(PR+NP)、前向运动精子(PR)、精子平均曲线运动速度呈负相关,且P<0.05。结论男性不育患者精液质量与精浆微量元素水平及外泌体中miR-184水平联系密切。

男性不育患者人乳头瘤病毒感染与精液质量的相关性研究

目的探讨人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)精液感染对不育男性精液常规参数、精浆生化及精子DNA损伤的影响。方法收集115例2023年5月至2023年12月就诊于武汉华科生殖专科医院男科门诊患者精液样本,采用荧光PCR法进行HPV基因分型检测以评估精液感染率,所有样本完成精液常规分析、精浆生化、精子DNA碎片指数(DFI)及DNA精子高着色性检测分析,比较感染组与未感染组精液质量各参数之间的差异。结果115例男科门诊患者精液样本中HPV检出11例,阳性率占9.57%;与HPV阴性组相比,HPV阳性组在精子总活力、前向运动精子百分率、精液白细胞浓度、精浆锌总量、精浆弹性蛋白酶浓度参数上有所降低,在精子DFI值上有所升高,且差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论男性HPV精液感染会对精子运动能力、精液感染指标及精子DNA完整性产生影响,对男性专科门诊患者诊疗上应考虑HPV感染因素,同时对高危人群必要时进行HPV基因分型检测。

Do Ureaplasma urealyticum infections in the genital tract affect semen quality?

Aim： To investigate the relationship between Ureaplasma urealyticum （UU） infection and semen quality. Methods： From 2001 to 2003, 346 eligible patients aged 20-45 years were invited from two hospitals in Shanghai, China, to participate in an investigation which included questionnaires about general and reproductive health, an external genital tract examination, UU culture and semen analysis. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine whether UU had a significant effect on semen quality after adjustment for confounding factors. Results： Findings suggested that UU infection was associated with higher semen viscosity and lower semen pH value. Sperm concentration was lower in UU positive subjects than that in UU negative subjects （54.04 × 10^6/mL vs.70.58 × 10^6/mL）. However, UU did not significantly affect other semen quality indexes. Conclusion： UU infection of the male genital tract could negatively influence semen quality.

男性不育患者精浆miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p水平检测的价值

目的探讨精浆miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p表达特征及其在男性不育患者精浆中变化和价值。方法选取2019年1月至2021年12月于江苏省中医院检验科留存的血清、晨尿、胸水、脑脊液和精浆标本各30例;进一步选取2010年至2019年江苏省中医院和南京大学医学院附属金陵医院冻存的非梗阻性无精子症患者精浆标本、弱精子症患者精浆标本及正常对照精浆标本各54例。实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测不同体液、不育患者精浆和正常对照精浆中miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p表达。ROC曲线分析精浆miR-135a-5p、miR-135b-5p水平区分男性不育患者及对照的ROC曲线下面积(AUC^(ROC));相关性分析精浆miR-135a-5p、miR-135b-5p水平与精液参数的相关性。结果5种不同体液间miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p水平差异具有统计学意义(H=64.88,P<0.01和H=64.7,P<0.01),二者在血清和精浆中水平均最高,在尿液中水平均最低。无精子症组、弱精子症组及正常对照组精浆miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p水平差异具有统计学意义(H=32.14,P<0.01;H=21.37,P<0.01)。与正常对照组相比,无精子症组2种miRNA水平均显著降低(U=687,P<0.01;U=843,P<0.01);弱精子症组与正常对照组差异无统计学意义(P均>0.05);无精子症组与弱精子症组精浆miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p水平具有显著差异(U=635,P<0.01;U=779,P<0.01)。精浆miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p区分无精子症与正常对照及弱精子症患者AUCROC分别为0.764(95%CI:0.675~0.854),0.711(95%CI:0.612~0.810)和0.782(95%CI:0.695~0.869),0.733(95%CI:0.637~0.829)。相关性分析结果显示,精浆miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p水平与精子浓度、精子活动率、前向运动精子百分率和非前向运动精子百分率均呈正相关(P均<0.01)。结论miR-135a-5p和miR-135b-5p为精浆高表达miRNA,在无精子症患者中显著降低,二者与男性不育发生关系密切。

严重少弱精子症患者血液和精液中微量元素含量分析及相关性研究

目的 对比分析严重少弱精子症患者血液和精液锌、钙、铜、铁4种微量元素含量,探讨该类患者微量元素失衡的相关性,拟定调理方案及时预防和治疗因微量元素失衡所致男性不育症。方法 回顾性分析2021年6月至2022年12月该院辅助生殖科收治的确诊为严重少弱精子症患者100例作为观察组,诊断标准根据世界卫生组织第5版精液常规分析标准操作规程文件标准,且排除遗传性疾病家族史。另选取100例精子质量正常的健康体检者作为对照组。2组研究对象纳入标准:(1)年龄25~40岁;(2)既往体健,无生殖系统疾病史;(3)睾丸、附睾及输精管无创伤疾病史;(5)最近6个月无服用含有上述微量元素药物史。结果 观察组患者血液和精液锌、钙含量均明显低于对照组(P<0.05),铁、铜含量均明显高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者血液与精液锌含量存在直线关系(r=0.746,P=0.003)。结论 严重少弱精子症患者血液和精液微量元素含量对男性生殖能力意义重大,针对性的微量元素治疗有望改善该类患者的精子质量,从而借助现代辅助生殖技术达到良好的助孕结局。

精浆中重金属元素含量对精液常规参数的影响

目的探讨精浆中重金属元素含量对精液常规参数的影响。方法选取2018年12月至2019年3月在宁波市妇女儿童医院生殖医学中心进行精液常规检查的299名男性为研究对象,收集精浆样本并检测13种重金属元素含量,采用二元logistic回归分析重金属元素含量对精液常规参数的影响。结果299份精浆样本中,除汞(86.29%)、铅(80.27%)元素的检出率较低外,其他11种重金属元素的检出率均>98%。锌元素含量为128129.352(90642.439,178805.258)μg/L,明显高于其他12种重金属元素含量(均P<0.05);而镉、汞、铊元素含量均较低,<1μg/L。精子浓度、精子总数、精子前向运动率、精子总活率符合正常参考值的百分比分别为93.31%、95.32%、57.19%和51.84%,平均水平分别为54.50(31.70,84.20)×10^(6)/ml、189.82(108.36,324.36)×10^(6)、34.00%(23.00%,40.00%)和40.00%(27.03%,50.00%)。校正年龄、BMI、禁欲天数、吸烟情况等混杂因素后,结果显示精浆样本中铜元素含量是精子总数的独立影响因素,其OR值及95%CI为2.648(1.143~6.136);钼元素含量是精子前向运动率、精子总活率的独立影响因素,其OR值及95%CI分别为0.503(0.295~0.857)、0.511(0.301~0.866)。结论精浆中铜、钼元素含量对精子总数、精子前向运动率和精子总活率等精液常规参数存在显著影响。