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Lipid peroxidation in human spermatozoa from men with genitourinary infections

Ilaria Cosci1, Elena Moretti, Giulia Collodel

  • 1Department of General Surgery, University of Siena, Biology Section, Siena, Italy.

Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine
|May 1, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Lipid peroxidation (LPO) in sperm is linked to genitourinary infections (GI) and reduced sperm quality. The C11-BODIPY(581/591) probe effectively detects LPO, aiding in assessing male fertility in GI patients.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Andrology

Background:

  • Genitourinary infections (GI) can impact male reproductive health.
  • Lipid peroxidation (LPO) is a marker of oxidative stress that may affect sperm function.
  • Assessing LPO in spermatozoa is crucial for understanding its role in male infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and impact of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in spermatozoa of individuals with genitourinary infections (GI).
  • To correlate LPO levels with sperm pathologies, including apoptosis, immaturity, and necrosis, and with sperm motility.
  • To evaluate the utility of the C11-BODIPY(581/591) fluorescent probe for detecting and quantifying LPO in sperm.

Main Methods:

  • A fluorescent assay using C11-BODIPY(581/591) was employed to detect and localize LPO in sperm from 34 individuals.
  • Sperm pathologies (apoptosis, immaturity, necrosis) were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • Sperm motility and morphological characteristics were assessed, and patients were grouped based on LPO percentage.

Main Results:

  • LPO was inversely correlated with sperm motility and directly correlated with low semen quality across all groups.
  • Patients with GI and reduced sperm motility showed increased LPO levels (10-20%).
  • In cases of sperm necrosis, LPO detection was challenging due to plasma membrane disruption, despite the presence of GI.

Conclusions:

  • The C11-BODIPY(581/591) probe is a valuable tool for quantifying and localizing LPO in spermatozoa from patients with GI.
  • LPO is a significant indicator of impaired sperm quality associated with genitourinary infections.
  • The presence of sperm necrosis may complicate LPO assessment using lipidic probes.

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