ABSTRACT
The expression of integrin cell adhesion molecules (ITG-CAMs) by human ejaculated spermatozoa (fresh, capacitated and acrosome reacted) was evaluated by immunocytochemical, immunofluorescence and cell-ELIS methods, using monoclonal antibodies against alpha-6 and beta-3 subunits. Both the subunits were expressed on the acrosome region in fresh spermatozoa and post acrosomal region after acrosome reaction induced by calcium ionophore. The spermatozoa of the fertile men showed significantly (P < 0.001) higher expression of alpha-6 and beta-3 ITG subunits than the subfertile men. The percentage of spermatozoa reacting with alpha-6 and beta-3 mAbs increased significantly after the loss of acrosome when compared with fresh spermatozoa. Moreover, 35-40% of spermatozoa with normal shape and none of the spermatozoa with pathological shape showed a positive reaction. The quantitative analysis carried out by ELISA suggests that the levels of these ITG subunits decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in the subfertile subjects when compared with the fertile and the difference was more for alpha-6 than the beta-3. Hence our result suggests that alpha-6 subunit may be used as a clinical marker to evaluate the sperm quality in men.
Subject(s)
Cell Adhesion Molecules/immunology , Humans , Integrins/immunology , Male , Spermatozoa/immunologyABSTRACT
The resazurin test (REZ TEST) was performed on semen samples obtained from 75 untreated subfertile and 10 pregnancy confirmed fertile males. The results were compared with other sperm parameters to assess the quality of semen. The highest correlation of REZ grade was with motile sperm (r = 0.90, P < 0.001), sperm viability (r = 0.80, P < 0.001) and sperm concentration (r = 0.71, P < 0.001). The REZ grade indicated significant difference in the rate of positive tests between samples from fertile males and patients exhibiting abnormal semen parameters. The RES TEST had a positive predictive value of 93.75% for a progressives motile sperm concentration of > 20 x 106/ml and a negative predictive power of 88.7% for the same variable at a criterion value of 10 x 106/ml. It is suggested that REZ TEST can be performed with a relatively small volume of semen, it is easy to perform and requires no technical equipments.
Subject(s)
Adult , Case-Control Studies , Cell Survival , Diagnostic Errors , Female , Humans , Indicators and Reagents , Infertility, Male/diagnosis , Male , Oxazines/diagnosis , Oxidation-Reduction , Pregnancy , Semen/cytology , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa/metabolism , XanthenesSubject(s)
Animals , Biomarkers/blood , Chaperonin 10 , Embryo Transfer , Female , Fertilization , Humans , Peptides/analysis , Pregnancy/blood , Pregnancy Proteins , Suppressor Factors, ImmunologicSubject(s)
Animals , Antigen-Antibody Complex/analysis , Cattle , Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Radioimmunoassay , Reference Values , Spermatozoa/immunologySubject(s)
Adult , Antibodies/analysis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radioimmunoassay , Spermatozoa/immunology , VasectomyABSTRACT
The study of possible adverse effects of vasectomy have been mainly focussed on hormonal balance, spermatogenesis, the induction· of auto-immune reactions and cardiovascular changes including the non-fatal myocardial infarction. The review of literature, including our own work on the immunological sequelae of vasectomy, indicates that there is no health hazard following vasectomy. The presence of antibodies to spermatozoa in some individuals, however, may effect future fertility, if reversal is requested.