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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Evaluation of Intracellular Location of Reactive Oxygen Species in Solea Senegalensis Spermatozoa
Published on: March 11, 2018
Reactive oxygen species as an independent marker of male factor infertility
Ashok Agarwal1, Rakesh K Sharma, Kiran P Nallella
1Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility and Sexual Function, Glickman Urological Institute and Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. agarwaa@ccf.org
Objective:
To determine the abnormal patterns of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in male factor infertility (MFI) patients and to define the ROS reference values in such patients.
Design:
A retrospective study.
Setting:
Male infertility clinic at a tertiary healthcare center.
Patient(S):
We examined 132 MFI patients (all normal sperm parameters, n = 24, and all abnormal sperm parameters, n = 38) and 34 healthy donors.
Intervention(S):
Routine semen analysis, measurement of ROS.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Sperm parameters, ROS levels (10(4) cpm/20 x 10(6) sperm).
Result(S):
Normal, healthy donors had significantly higher (P<.0001) sperm concentration, motility, and morphology compared with all MFI patients. Univariate analysis indicated a significant association between MFI and log (ROS + 1) (odds ratio [OR] = 3.84), besides sperm parameters and age. A multivariate model using logistic regression analysis also indicated an independent association of log ROS with MFI (OR = 4.25). The ROS cutoff values of 1.2-1.4 had a sensitivity of 0.70-0.78 with a corresponding specificity of 0.82. However, at a cutoff point of 1.2, the OR was 68.6, which increased with an increase in the cutoff.
Conclusion(S):
High ROS is an independent marker of MFI, irrespective of whether these patients have normal or abnormal semen parameters. We suggest the inclusion of ROS measurement as part of idiopathic infertility evaluation. Treatment with antioxidants may be beneficial in such patients.
Insights
High reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are an independent marker for male factor infertility (MFI), regardless of sperm parameters. Measuring ROS can aid in evaluating idiopathic infertility and guide antioxidant treatment.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Andrology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Male factor infertility (MFI) affects a significant portion of couples seeking fertility treatment.
- Oxidative stress, indicated by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor to male infertility.
- Current diagnostic methods for MFI may not fully capture the role of oxidative stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate abnormal patterns of ROS production in male factor infertility (MFI) patients.
- To establish reference values for ROS in MFI patients.
- To determine if ROS levels are an independent marker for MFI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study design.
- Analysis of 132 MFI patients and 34 healthy donors.
- Routine semen analysis and measurement of ROS levels.
Main Results:
- Healthy donors exhibited significantly higher sperm concentration, motility, and morphology than MFI patients (P<.0001).
- Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significant independent association between MFI and elevated ROS levels (OR = 4.25).
- ROS cutoff values between 1.2-1.4 demonstrated high sensitivity (0.70-0.78) and specificity (0.82) for MFI detection.
Conclusions:
- Elevated ROS is an independent diagnostic marker for MFI, even with normal semen parameters.
- Inclusion of ROS measurement in the evaluation of idiopathic infertility is recommended.
- Antioxidant therapy may prove beneficial for MFI patients with high ROS levels.
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