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Background: Increased sperm DNA damage is known as one of the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) which can be due to increased levels of oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of alphalipoic acid (ALA) on sperm parameters and sperm functions in couples with a history of RPL. Materials and Methods: In this post hoc analysis in clinical trial study, a total of 37 couples with RPL (n=12 and n=25 for placebo and ALA groups, respectively) were considered. Men were treated with ALA (600 mg/day) or placebo for 80 days. Semen samples were acquired from the participants before initiation and after completion of the medication course and assessed regarding conventional sperm parameters, chromatin damage/integrity, intracellular oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and seminal antioxidant characteristics. Individuals were further followed up for twelve months for pregnancy occurrence and outcomes. Finally, after excluding patients with no history of RPL, the data was analyzed. Results: No significant differences were observed between the baseline measures of the aforementioned parameters except for seminal volume. After the intervention, the mean sperm DNA damage, protamine deficiency, and persisted histones were significantly lower in the ALA group than in placebo receivers (P<0.05). A decrease in the mean of seminal total antioxidant capacity (P=0.03), malondialdehyde (P=0.02), and sperm DNA damage (P=0.004) as well as an increase in sperm total motility (P=0.04) after treatment with ALA was noticed. In addition, the mean of protamine deficiency and persisted histones were declined post-ALA therapy (P=0.003 and 0.002, respectively). The percentage of spontaneous pregnancy in the ALA group (4 of 25 cases; 16%) was higher than in the placebo group (1 of 12, 8.3%). Conclusion: ALA-therapy attenuates sperm DNA damage and lipid peroxidation while enhancing sperm total motility and chromatin compaction in the male partner of couples with PRL (registration number: IRCT20190406043177N1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The effects of dietary fish oil on semen quality and sperm fatty acid profiles during consumption of n-3 fatty acids as well as the persistency of fatty acids in ram's sperm after removing dietary oil from the diet were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we randomly assigned 9 Zandi rams to two groups (isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets): control (CTR; n=5) and fish oil (FO; n=4) for 70 days with a constant level of vitamin E in both groups. Semen was collected at the first week and at the last week of the feeding period (phase 1). After the feeding period, all rams were fed a conventional diet and semen samples were collected one and two months after removal of FO (phase 2). The sperm parameters and fatty acid profiles were measured by computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA) and gas chromatography (GC), respectively. The completely randomized design was used and data were analyzed with SPSS version 16. Results: Dietary FO had significant positive effects on all sperm quality and quantity parameters compared with the CTR during the feeding period (p<0.05). The positive effects of FO on sperm concentration and total sperm output were observed at one and two months after removal of FO (p<0.05), whereas other sperm parameters were unaffected. Before feeding, C14 (myristic acid), C16 (palmitic acid), C18 (stearic acid), C18:1 (oleic acid) and C22:6 (docosahexaenoic acid: DHA) were the primary sperm FA. FO in the diet increased sperm DHA, C14:0 and C18:0 during the feeding period (p<0.05). Conclusion: The present study showed not only manipulation of ram sperm fatty acid profiles by dietary FO and sperm parameters during the feeding period, but also the persistency of unique effects of dietary omega-3 fatty acids up to two months following its removal from the diet. Also, we recommend that sperm fatty acid profiles should be comprehensively analyzed and monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Formaldehyde (FA), one of the simplest organic molecules, is a flammable, pungent, irritating and colorless gas. This study aimed to investigate the effects of various concentrations of FA vapor on sperm parameters and testicular tissue. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we randomly assigned 36 adult male mice to one control and two experimental groups (n=12 for each group). The control group (C) did not receive FA. Group F1 (low concentration) was exposed to 10 ppm FA vapor and the F2 (high concentration) group was exposed to 20 ppm FA vapor. FA was administered for ten days, eight hours per day for both groups. At the end of the exposure period, half of the animals in each group were sacrificed 24 hours after exposure to detect any short-term effects; the rest of the mice were sacrificed 35 days later to assess for long-term effects. Sperm parameters were analyzed by Computer-assisted Sperm Analyzer (CASA) and histological changes determined. In addition, we studied changes in testosterone hormone. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by the Scheffe test using SPSS software. Results: Long-term effects of FA in the experimental groups included significant reductions in sperm cell numbers and sperm viability. A drastic reduction in progressive motility and increased abnormal sperm percentage (p<0.001) compared with the control group was also noted. Histological study of testes specimens in the experimental group revealed displacement of germinal cells, along with degeneration of Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules. Conclusion: Exposure to FA vapor can destroy testicular structure and decrease percentages of concentration, viability, normal morphology, and progressive motility, in addition to increasing the percentage of immotile sperm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mammalian spermatozoa are characterized by a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), but reliable data concerning dietary effects on fatty acid (FA) profile in ram's sperm and the persistency of FA in the ration to the FA in sperm has not been reported. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the stability of saturated and unsaturated FAs in ram's sperm despite removing FA sources from their diet. Materials and Methods: Nine Kalkoohi rams were used in a completely randomized design and they were assigned to 3 groups. The treatments were diet supplemented (35 g/d/ram) by C16:0 (RP-10®), C18: 2 (Sunflower oil; SO) and n-3 (Fish oil; FO) with Vitamin E. Fifteen weeks after the start of the supplemented diet, rams were offered a basal diet without any supplementary FA source for 35 days when the sperm's FA ratio was determined. The data were analyzed by ANO VA (Analysis of variance) using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS Institute. Results: Thirty five days after removing the fat supplement from the diet, major FA in sperm consisted of: C 14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 cis, C18:2 cis and C22:6 n-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The percentage of C14:0 (p=0.8) and C18:1 cis (P =0.4) were similar among all the treatments. Interestingly, 35 days after the removal of fatty acid source, the percentage of C22:6 was highest in the FO treated group. Conclusion: The different sperm FA profile among various groups suggests that dietary FA had significant direct or indirect impacts on sperm FA profile after 35 days which might lead to physical and chemical changes in sperm characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]