Levels of DNA, Protein, Lipid Oxidation and Apoptosis Biomarkers in Semen of Men with Hyperviscous Semen: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Semen hyperviscosity is a threatening cause of abnormal spermatozoa and infertility in men. We aimedto evaluate oxidative stress, antioxidants depletion and sperm apoptosis as main reasons for poor quality of spermatozoain men with hyperviscous semen.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ejaculate specimens were collected from fertile (n=102) andinfertile men with hyperviscous semen (n=123) and without semen hyperviscosity (n=143). Total antioxidant capacity(TAC), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG),and were measured in semen samples to estimate oxidative stress status. Gene expression pattern of BAX, CASPASE-9,CASPASE-3, and BCL2 was assessed to estimate sperm apoptosis.Results: The average of sperm count, normal morphology, normal motility, and sperm vitality in men with hyperviscoussemen was significantly lower than infertile subjects without hyperviscous semen (P