Role of Oxidative Stress in Semen Quality of Infertile Men

Abstract

ROS are highly toxic to all types of biological molecules including DNA, lipids, protein and carbohydrates, and ROS considered as a cause of much disease including genital diseases. The study consists of 72 infertile with different categories (Oligozoospermia, Asthenozospermia and Normozoospermia) and 24 healthy men as control in the period from March to November 2012. Patients were selected and analyzed according to WHO 2010. The following biochemical parameters have been examined for each sample (net semen ROS (Reactive oxygen species), washed Sperm ROS Lipid Peroxidation and DNA damage level). Result show a significant increase in ROS, Lipid peroxidation, DNA damage in different groups infertile men compared to fertile, while no significant difference in washed spermatozoa ROS level. Low sperm count in Oligozoospermia group may be due to apoptosis process in the testes activated by high level of ROS. The link between ROS and reduced motility may be due to the decrease in axonemal protein phosphorylation and sperm immobilization. Lipid peroxidation in Normozoospermia infertility occurs in a high level in the sperm acrosome, leading to loss of the ability to penetrate the ovum.