scholarly journals The Influence of Varicocele and Microsurgical Varicocelectomy on Semen Quality, as Determined by Metabolic Analysis

Author(s):  
Xinzong Zhang ◽  
Cuncan Deng ◽  
Wujiang Liu ◽  
Huang Liu ◽  
Yu Zhou ◽  
...  

Abstract The influence of varicocele and microsurgical varicocelectomy on semen quality remains unclear. No previous study has investigated the relationship between semen metabolism and the abnormalities in reproductive function caused by varicocele. Here, we used the non-targeted and targeted metabolic analysis to investigate the different metabolites in seminal plasma within normal, varicocele, and varicocelectomy groups. We clearly showed that varicocele significantly affects sperm metabolism, and microsurgical varicocelectomy can reverse this metabolic abnormality. Moreover, we characterized the landscape of three dipeptides in the seminal plasma of patients with varicocele that have not been identified previously in human tissues or biofluids. Interestingly, the levels of these three dipeptides decreased after microsurgical varicocelectomy coincident with an improvement in semen quality. Western blotting confirmed the downregulation of DPEP3 (dipeptidase 3) in the varicocele group and the upregulation of DPEP3 in the varicocelectomy group. Furthermore, we found that eight metabolites may be helpful to distinguish varicocele patients from normal subjects. Our results can be applied to earlier diagnosis or to predict the outcome of microsurgery for varicocele.

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 882-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
María F García ◽  
Romina Nuñez Favre ◽  
María C Stornelli ◽  
Ramiro Rearte ◽  
María C García Mitacek ◽  
...  

Objectives The current study aimed to evaluate the relationship between specific seminal plasma components – cholesterol (CHOL), triacylglycerols (TAG) and total protein (PROT) concentrations – and semen quality in cats. A further aim was to determine the relationship between specific seminal protein bands and semen quality. Methods Thirteen toms, 2–5 years of age, were included. Semen collection was performed by electroejaculation every 4 weeks. Fifty-eight ejaculates were assessed for motility, velocity, volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, viability, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity and sperm morphology. Samples were divided into two groups: good semen quality (GSQ) and poor semen quality (PSQ). After evaluation, seminal plasma was separated from the sperm by centrifugation and stored at −20°C. CHOL, TAG and PROT concentrations were then assessed and seminal plasma protein profile was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results Seminal plasma CHOL and TAG concentrations, motility, velocity, sperm concentration, total sperm count and sperm morphology were significantly higher in GSQ cats compared with PSQ cats ( P <0.01). Moreover, seminal plasma SDS-PAGE analysis showed an identifiable extra band exclusively in the GSQ group. Conclusions and relevance Data obtained in this study showed that seminal plasma CHOL and TAG concentrations and specific protein bands could be used to improve semen evaluation in toms. In this sense, the 14 kDa protein band could be a valuable marker for semen quality in the cat and should be further investigated. However, more studies are necessary to determine its relationship with fertility.


1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. YARNEY ◽  
L. M. SANFORD ◽  
W. M. PALMER

The relationship between the pattern of early testicular growth and postpubertal spermatogenic function and libido was investigated with 14 Suffolk rams born in March. Scrotal circumference and testicular diameter (TD) measurements were taken every 10 d between 30 and 190 d of age, and at 13 and 17 mo. Daily sperm output (DSO, sperm voided in urine) or semen quality, and libido were assessed at approximately 6, 13 and 17 mo of age. At 6 mo of age, rams with the larger testes had a greater DSO (r ≥ 0.77, P < 0.01) and mated estrual ewes more frequently (r ≥ 0.72, P < 0.01). Rams with larger testes at 13 mo had a greater DSO (r ≥ 0.74, P < 0.01), and those with larger testes at 17 mo ejaculated a higher percentage of motile spermatozoa (r ≥ 0.55, P < 0.05) and a greater number of spermatozoa (r = 0.61, P < 0.05; TD only). DSO at 13 mo was related to testicular size (r ≥ 0.54, P < 0.05) between 150 and 190 d of age. There were also correlations between the number of spermatozoa ejaculated at 17 mo and testicular size measurements (r ≥ 0.56, P < 0.05) taken between 170 and 190 d. However, ejaculation frequency (EF) at both 13 and 17 mo was not related to earlier testicular size measurements. Whereas testicular size and spermatogenic function of yearling Suffolk rams relate to testicular size measurements taken at about 6 mo of age, juvenile testicular size measurements correlate with EF only in the immediate postpubertal period. Key words: Sexual maturation, reproductive traits, interrelationships, ram


2013 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenia Jacyno ◽  
Maria Kawecka ◽  
Anita Kolodziej-Skalska ◽  
A. Pietruszka ◽  
Beata Matysiak ◽  
...  

1981 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 925-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. GREENBERG ◽  
J. P. MAHONE

The effects of supplemental lighting in stimulating reproductive function in prepuberal boars were studied using littermate boars divided equally into four groups (n = 9). All boars received natural daylight (9.2–12.8 h) until 2 mo of age, followed by artificial light given daily according to the following schedule: boars were exposed to a 15-h photoperiod beginning at the age of 2 (group I); 3 (group II); 4 (group III) or 5 mo (group IV). Libido scores of the four groups increased with age (P < 0.001). Seminal plasma protein (P < 0.01) and zinc concentration (P < 0.05), sperm-rich concentration, sperm-rich volume, total semen volume and total viable sperm increased (P < 0.05) with age in all four groups. The photoperiod treatment had no effect on semen quality on a per ejaculate basis between the groups; 15 h of light per day was not effective in accelerating the onset of puberty when administered from 2, 3, 4 or 5 mo of age onward.


2009 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Jacyno ◽  
A. Kołodziej ◽  
M. Kawęcka ◽  
A. Pietruszka ◽  
B. Matysiak ◽  
...  

Abstract. The relationship between blood serum and seminal plasma cholesterol concentration and semen traits and testes size was examined on 110 young boars (6 month old) of the 990 synthetic line. In the study were determined: testes volume, semen quality traits (ejaculate volume, motile spermatozoa percentage, spermatozoa concentration and total number per ejaculate, percentage of spermatozoa with normal acrosome, percentage of spermatozoa with major and minor morphological defects, osmotic resistance test value [ORT] and activity of aspartate aminotransferase in seminal plasma [AspAT]). Cholesterol content in blood serum and seminal plasma were determined. Mean cholesterol content in blood serum amounted to 71.2, while that in seminal plasma to 6.96 mg/dL. Total cholesterol content in blood serum correlated positively with testes volume (P≤0.05), whereas no correlation was found with semen quality traits of the examined males. Cholesterol concentration in seminal plasma was positively correlated (P≤0.05) with spermatozoa motility, concentration and total number, while negatively (P≤0.05) with the percentage of spermatozoa with major morphological defects and the activity of AspAT in seminal plasma. No relationship was found between total cholesterol content in blood serum and that in seminal plasma.


1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (04/05) ◽  
pp. 315-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Momose ◽  
K. Komiya ◽  
A. Uchiyama

Abstract:The relationship between chromatically modulated stimuli and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) was considered. VEPs of normal subjects elicited by chromatically modulated stimuli were measured under several color adaptations, and their binary kernels were estimated. Up to the second-order, binary kernels obtained from VEPs were so characteristic that the VEP-chromatic modulation system showed second-order nonlinearity. First-order binary kernels depended on the color of the stimulus and adaptation, whereas second-order kernels showed almost no difference. This result indicates that the waveforms of first-order binary kernels reflect perceived color (hue). This supports the suggestion that kernels of VEPs include color responses, and could be used as a probe with which to examine the color visual system.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Qiurong XIE ◽  
Zheng JIANG ◽  
Qinglu LUO ◽  
Jie LIANG ◽  
Xiaoling WANG ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Motamedifar ◽  
Yalda Malekzadegan ◽  
Parisa Namdari ◽  
Behzad Dehghani ◽  
Bahia Namavar Jahromi ◽  
...  

Introduction: Infertility considered as a social and public health issue and estimated that most of these infertile couples are residents of developing countries. Infectious diseases including the history of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) may impact on male reproductive function. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of bacterial contaminants of semen and probable association with sperm quality of infertile men in Iranian population. Methods: The study population consisted of 200 infertile men and 150 fertile men attending an infertility Center in southwestern Iran during the study period in 2015. The assessment of sperm parameters was according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The presumptive pathogens were identified using standard microbiology tests and confirmed by specific PCR primers. Results: The prevalence of bacteriospermia in the semen of the infertile group was significantly higher than that in the fertile group (48% vs. 26.7%, P <0.001). The microbiological analysis of samples showed that the most abundant species of bacteria in semen of infertile men were Chlamydia trachomatis (12.5%) followed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (11%). On the other hand, in the control group, Lactobacillus spp. (17.3%) was the most isolated pathogen. Results showed that the presence of N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Haemophilus, and Klebsiella was significantly associated with sperm abnormality. Conclusion: Based on our findings, it seems that bacteriospermia is associated with alterations in the properties of semen which may lead to a decrease in the fertilization potential of sperm. Therefore, immediate and appropriate treatment is necessary before investigating every other possible cause of infertility.


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