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The effect of being overweight on seminal variables was assesed in 165 fertile men. Participants were divided into three groups: fertile men with normal body mass index (BMI) (18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 ), fertile overweight men (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m 2 ) and fertile obese men (BMI >30 kg/m 2 ). Medical history was taken, a clinical examination conducted. Semen analysis was undertaken and BMI measured. Seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) was estimated by chemiluminescent assay, sperm vitality by the hypo-osmotic swelling test and sperm DNA fragmentation by propidium iodide staining with flowcytometry. Fertile obese men had significantly lower sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility and sperm normal morphology, with significantly higher seminal ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation compared with fertile normal-weight men and overweight men (all P < 0.05). BMI was negatively correlated with sperm concentration (r = -0.091; P = 0.014), progressive sperm motility (r = -0.697; P = 0.001), normal sperm morphology (r = -0.510; P = 0.001), sperm vitality (r = -0.586; P = 0.001), but positively correlated with sperm DNA fragmentation percentage (r = 0.799; P = 0.001) and seminal ROS (r = 0.673; P = 0.001). Increased BMI was found to affect semen parameters negatively even in fertile men., (Copyright © 2016 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to assess cytochrome (CY) P450-2D6*4 polymorphism relationship with semen variables in infertile men. In all, 308 men were included; fertile normozoospermia (N) (n = 77), asthenozoospermia (A) (n = 70), asthenoteratozoospermia (AT) (n = 75) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) (n = 86). They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, semen analysis, sperm acrosin activity, seminal malondialdehyde (MDA) and CYP450-2D6*4 genotyping. CYP450-2D6*4 wild-type allele was represented in 76.5% of N, 70% of A, 66.7% of AT and 57.7% of OAT men where homozygous gene mutation was present in 5.9% of N, 20% of A, 26.6% of AT and 26.9% of OAT men, respectively. Sperm acrosin activity, sperm concentration, sperm motility, linear sperm velocity and sperm normal forms were significantly higher, and seminal MDA level was significantly lower in men with CYP450-2D6*4 wild-type allele compared with men with homozygous mutation. It is concluded that CYP450-2D6*4 wild-type allele has higher frequency where homozygous-type allele has lower frequency in N men compared with A, AT and OAT men. Sperm acrosin activity index, sperm concentration, sperm motility, linear sperm velocity and sperm normal forms were significantly higher, and seminal MDA level was significantly lower in men with CYP450-2D6*4 wild-type allele compared with men with homozygous mutation., (© 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Objective: To assess Ropporin gene expression in the sperm of infertile asthenozoospermic men with varicocele (Vx) before and after repair., Methods: This study included 24 infertile asthenozoospermic men with Vx. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, scrotal color Doppler, and semen analysis with sperm separation. Three months after varicocelectomy, they were subjected to postoperative color Doppler, semen analysis, and sperm semiquantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction assay for Ropporin gene expression levels., Results: Ropporin gene expression is significantly associated with different types of sperm motility, except for nonprogressive sperm motility. There was significant Ropporin gene overexpression postvaricocelectomy that was correlated with improved sperm count, sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology with decreased veins diameters., Conclusion: Ropporin gene expression is related to the sperm motility. Its abnormal expression in the sperm of asthenozoospermic men with Vx is associated with impaired sperm motility that is improved after varicocelectomy., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the effect of treatment of seminal Helicobacter pylori in infertile asthenozoospermic men., Methods: In all, 223 infertile asthenozoospermic men were consecutively selected. They were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, semen analysis, and estimation of H pylori IgA antibodies in their seminal fluid. Infertile men with high seminal H pylori IgA were subjected to triple drug treatment, omeprazole, 20 mg; tinidazole, 500 mg; and clarithromycin, 250 mg twice a day for 2 weeks. Semen analysis as well as H pylori IgA antibodies was estimated after 3 months., Results: In all, 22 of 223 men (9.87%) demonstrated H pylori IgA antibodies in their seminal plasma. After treatment, mean seminal H pylori IgA levels demonstrated significant decrease (1.55 ± 0.4 vs 0.52 ± 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.21; P = .001) concomitant with improved progressive as well as nonprogressive sperm motility. H pylori IgA antibodies demonstrated significant negative correlation with progressive sperm motility, nonprogressive sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, and significant positive correlation with immotile sperm motility., Conclusion: H pylori treatment significantly improves sperm motility in infertile asthenozoospermic men with elevated seminal H pylori IgA., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene polymorphism relationship with seminal variables in fertile men (N) and those with asthenozoospermia (A), asthenoteratozoospermia (AT), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT)., Materials and Methods: A total of 50 infertile men without a female factor who were attending a fertility clinic and 48 fertile men were randomly screened for semen analysis, analysis of the TNF-α promoter region for polymorphism, seminal caspase-9, acrosin activity, α-glucosidase, and reproductive hormones., Results: The TNF-α GG genotype was present in 83.9%, 72.7%, 66.7%, and 59.5%, the TNF-α AA genotype in 3.2%, 6.8%, 10.4%, and 11.9%, and TNF-α AG genotype in 12.9%, 20.5%, 22.9%, and 28.6% in the N, A, AT, OAT groups, respectively. The occurrence of A allele was significantly greater among infertile patients than among fertile controls (21.6% vs 9.7%; odds ratio 0.388, 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.75, P = .005). Men with the TNF-α AA genotype demonstrated a significant decrease in the sperm count, sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, acrosin activity, and seminal α-glucosidase and a significant increase in seminal caspase-9 compared with those with the TNF-α GG genotype., Conclusion: This single nucleotide polymorphism in the TNF-α(-308) gene was associated with significantly increased seminal caspase-9 and a significantly decreased sperm count, sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, acrosin activity, and seminal α-glucosidase., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The effect of different concentrations of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) solution in vitro on human sperm motility was assessed in 85 asthenozoospermic semen specimens. Semen samples were divided equally into six tubes, one as a control and to the others, sildenafil dissolved solution was added (v/v) in vitro with five different concentrations (4.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.1 mg/mL). The tubes were incubated and were followed up for sperm motility changes at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hours. It is demonstrated that the in vitro use of sildenafil citrate solution has a concentration-related stimulatory effect on ejaculated sperm motility.

Tadalafil (Cialis) is a known oral selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor used widely in the management of erectile dysfunction. To assess its ability on human sperm motility in vitro, 70 asthenozoospermic semen specimens delivered by masturbation were investigated. Semen samples were divided equally into four tubes, one as a control and to the others tadalafil dissolved solution was added in vitro in three different concentrations (4.0, 1.0, 0.5 mg ml(-1) respectively). The tubes were incubated and were followed up for sperm motility per cent changes for 0.5, 1, 2, 3 h. It was found that the concentration used played an important role in the degree of sperm enhancement. Specimens treated with 4 mg ml(-1) tadalafil solution demonstrated a significant decrease in sperm motility compared with the controls. Specimens treated with 1.0 mg ml(-1) solution demonstrated significant increase in sperm progressive forward motility. Specimens treated with 0.5 mg ml(-1) solution demonstrated significant increases in sperm motility but lower than that of 1 mg ml(-1) concentration. It is concluded that in vitro use of tadalafil solution in special concentration has a significant stimulatory effect on asthenozoospermic sperm motility.

Summary: In a case‐controlled study, we assessed the expressed seminal NAD‐dependent protein deacetylase (SIRT1) expression in infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men associated with varicocoele. Our study involved 81 men, recruited from the University hospitals, after ethical approval and informed consent. They were allocated into fertile normozoospermic men (n = 23), infertile OAT men without varicocoele (n = 23) and infertile OAT men with varicocoele (n = 35). Inclusion criteria consisted of confirmation of abnormal semen parameters and normal female partners whereas exclusion criteria were leukocytospermia, tobacco smoking, hormonal therapy, immunological disorders, dyslipidemia, hypogonadism, cardiovascular disorders, morbid obesity, and hepatic or renal failures. All participants had an interview to assess clinical history, clinical examination, semen analysis, and estimation of seminal SIRT1 expression. Seminal SIRT1 expression was significantly lower in infertile OAT men than fertile men. Among infertile OAT men, seminal SIRT1 expression was significantly lower in those with varicocoele than in those without. Additionally, seminal SIRT1 expression was significantly lower in varicocoele grade III cases compared with other grades. Seminal SIRT1 expression was positively correlated with sperm concentration (r = 0.327, p = 0.001), total sperm motility (r = 0.532, p = 0.001), and sperm normal forms (r = 0.469, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that seminal SIRT1 expression has a role of male infertility being significantly decreased in infertile OAT men in general and in infertile OAT men associated with varicocoele in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effect of varicocelectomy and/or mast cells ( MCs) stabilizer on sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men with varicocele (Vx). Overall, 120 infertile patients were randomized to three equal treatment arms; patients that underwent varicocelectomy, patients on 1 mg ketotifen twice daily for three months, and patients that underwent varicocelectomy followed with 1 mg ketotifen twice daily for three months. These patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, semen analysis, and estimation of sperm DNA fragmentation index ( DFI). After 3 months, all investigated groups showed significant improvement regarding the mean total sperm count, sperm concentration, total sperm motility, and sperm normal forms percentage compared with the pre-treatment data. As well, the mean sperm DFI was significantly improved compared with the pre-treatment data; in men that underwent varicocelectomy (34.6% vs. 28.3%), in men on MC stabilizer only (33.4% vs. 27.8%), and in men that underwent varicocelectomy followed by MC stabilizer (34.3% vs. 25.1%). Sperm DFI improvement percentages showed the highest improvement in men that underwent varicocelectomy followed with MC stabilizer compared with the other two groups (26.8% vs. 18.2%, 16.8%). Sperm DFI improvement percentages showed significant increases in the infertile patients with Vx grade III compared to Vx grade II in all investigated groups. It is concluded that in infertile men associated with Vx and high sperm DFI, surgical repair followed with MCs stabilizer significantly improve sperm DFI compared with either surgical repair or MCs stabilizer alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess seminal mast cells in infertile men associated with varicocele (Vx) pre- and post-surgical repair. Forty-five infertile men associated with Vx were subjected to history taking and clinical examination. In addition, semen parameters and seminal mast cells stained with 1% toluidine blue were estimated pre-varicocelectomy and three months post-varicocelectomy. Vx surgical repair revealed a significant improvement in the mean sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility and sperm abnormal morphology and a significant decrement in seminal mast cells (mean ± SD, 3.56 ± 2.23 cells per high-power field ( HPF) vs. 2.22 ± 1.06 cells per HPF, p = .01). The pre-operative mean mast cell count demonstrated significant increases in cases with Vx grade III compared with other Vx grades and in cases with bilateral Vx compared with unilateral Vx cases. Seminal mast cells demonstrated a significant correlation with sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility and total sperm motility and a nonsignificant correlation with age and sperm abnormal morphology. It is concluded that seminal mast cells decrease significantly in infertile men with Vx after surgical repair showing a significant negative correlation with sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility and total sperm motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess glutathione-S-transferase ( GST) enzyme- oxidative stress ( OS) relationship in the internal spermatic vein ( ISV) of infertile men associated with varicocele (Vx). Ninety five infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospemic ( OAT) men associated with Vx were subjected to history taking, clinical examination and semen analysis. During inguinal varicocelectomy, GST, malondialdehyde ( MDA) and glutathione peroxidase ( GPx) were estimated in the blood samples drawn from ISV and median cubital veins. The mean levels of GST, GPx were significantly decreased and the mean level of GPx was significantly increased in the ISV compared with the peripheral blood. The mean level of GST and GPx in the ISV was significantly decreased, and the mean level of MDA was significantly increased in Vx grade III compared with Vx grade II cases. There was nonsignificant difference in the mean level of GST in the ISV in unilateral Vx cases compared with bilateral Vx cases. There was significant positive correlation of GST with sperm count, sperm motility, GPx and significant negative correlation with sperm abnormal forms, MDA. It is concluded that ISV of infertile men associated with Vx has decreased levels of GST compared with peripheral venous circulation that is correlated with both OS and Vx grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the androgen receptor (AR) codon amino acids glutamine (CAG) repeats in 185 Egyptian men divided into fertile controls ( n = 30), oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men ( n = 35), nonobstructive azoospermic (NOA) men ( n = 120; 18 successful testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and 102 unsuccessful TESE cases). They were subjected to history taking, genital examination, semen analysis, testicular biopsies for NOA cases, serum hormones and CAG repeats by PCR. The mean AR-CAG repeats showed significant difference between NOA group compared with fertile controls or OAT groups. Nonsignificant difference was elicited between OAT group and fertile controls. In NOA cases, CAG repeats demonstrated nonsignificant difference between unsuccessful and successful TESE. AR-CAG repeats elicited significant negative correlation with sperm count, significant positive correlation with sperm normal forms percentage and nonsignificant correlations with sperm motility per cent, tested serum hormones or testicular volume. It is concluded that AR-CAG repeats in Egyptian infertile men are in the range of other international or regional studies. AR-CAG repeats have demonstrated nonsignificant difference regarding TESE outcome in NOA cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sperm lipids are important for sperm viability, maturity and function. This study aimed to identify cholesterol and desmosterol composition of human spermatozoa of two sperm populations separated on Sil-Select gradient. Forty-eight males were divided into four groups namely healthy men ( n = 13), asthenozoospermia ( n = 11), asthenoteratozoospermia ( n = 10) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia ( n = 14). Sperm cholesterol and desmosterol were estimated in two human sperm population separated by centrifugation in a discontinuous Sil-Select gradient. The results showed that cholesterol and desmosterol were the major sterols in human spermatozoa. Spermatozoa recovered from upper/lower layer interface (fraction I) had low fertilization potential, while those from the base (fraction II) had high fertilization potential. Median values of cholesterol and desmosterol in fraction I were 2.55 μmol and 0.77 μmol/109 spermatozoa and in fraction II were 1.16 μmol and 0.27 μmol/109 spermatozoa. Cholesterol/desmosterol ratio was significantly higher in fraction II than I (4.8 vs. 3.2, p < 0.01). Cholesterol, desmosterol, total phospholipids and sterols/phospholipids were negatively correlated with sperm concentrations, sperm motility, linear velocity, normal sperm morphology and acrosome reaction percentage whereas cholesterol/desmosterol ratio was positively correlated with these parameters. It is concluded that the difference in sterol composition of sperm subpopulations separated on Sil-Select gradient suggests that composition of sterols is related to sperm functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to assess the possible association between the presence of seminal mast cells and asthenozoospermia. One hundred and seventy-six male subjects were investigated: group (Gr)1 ( n = 46) normozoospermic fertile controls, Gr2 ( n = 62) idiopathic asthenozoospermia, Gr3 ( n = 32) asthenozoospermia with scrotal varicocele and Gr4 ( n = 36) asthenozoospermia with leucocytospermia. Four smear slides were prepared for each semen sample to be stained with toluidine blue–pyronin to detect mast cells. A significant increase was shown in mast cell-positive samples among varicocele-associated and idiopathic asthenozoospermic patients in comparison with fertile controls. Seminal mast cells were also detected at higher frequency among smokers and in age group over 40 years. It is concluded that mast cells and their products may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthenozoospermia, possibly proposing a new goal for medical treatment of infertile males to pursue. In addition, this concept may in a way detain smoking as a cause of male infertility considering the clear abundance of mast cells in semen samples of smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]