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Oxidative stress in normospermic men undergoing infertility evaluation
F F Pasqualotto1, R K Sharma, H Kobayashi
1Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction and Infertility, Urological Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Journal of Andrology
|March 7, 2001
Summary
Infertile men with normal sperm counts show increased seminal oxidative stress, indicated by higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower total antioxidant capacity (TAC). This imbalance may explain unexplained infertility cases.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Andrology
- Oxidative Stress Research
Background:
- Male infertility affects a significant portion of couples seeking fertility treatment.
- Oxidative stress is implicated in various infertility conditions, but its role in normospermic infertile men requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate seminal oxidative stress levels in infertile men with normal sperm parameters (normospermic).
- To assess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Seminal ROS, TAC, and a composite ROS-TAC score were measured in 43 normospermic infertile men and 19 healthy donors.
- Patients were categorized into groups: varicocele, positive female factor, and idiopathic infertility.
Main Results:
- Normospermic infertile men exhibited significantly higher ROS levels compared to controls (P = .03).
- Reduced TAC levels were observed in all infertile groups compared to controls (P < .003).
- The ROS-TAC score was significantly lower in infertile patients, indicating a pro-oxidant state.
Conclusions:
- Oxidative stress is demonstrably present in infertile men with normal sperm parameters.
- These findings suggest that seminal oxidative stress could be a contributing factor in unexplained infertility cases.