Effect of the Oxidant-Antioxidant System in Seminal Plasma on Varicocele and Idiopathic Infertility in Male Humans.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate seminal oxidant-antioxidant activity in idiopathic and varicocele infertility in men. METHODS: Total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), paraoxonase (PON1), aryl esterase (ARE), and total thiol levels (TTL) were measured in seminal plasma with an autoanalyzer. The TOS/TAC ratio was determined as the oxidative stress index (OSI). A histopathological evaluation of the sperm was performed in the andrology laboratory of the hospital. Number, motility, morphology, volume, pH, and leukocytes were evaluated in all samples according to World Health Organization criteria. The three study groups were as follows: G1, males with idiopathic infertility; G2, males with varicocele infertility; and G3, normal healthy males (had fathered a child in the last 2 years). Each group was composed of 36 men (age, 25 - 40 years). The Rel Assay Diagnostics kit was used to determine the levels of the parameters. The study was conducted according to the principles of the declaration of Helsinki and was approved by Sakarya University Medicine Faculty Ethic Committee (e.n: 16214662/050.01.04/07). Statistical significance was assumed if p < 0.05. All statistical evaluations were performed using SPSS (version 20.0 for Windows; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: No differences were detected between the mean values of antioxidant parameters among the three groups (Kruskal-Wallis test). The p-values of the test parameters (TAC, TOS, PON1, ARE, TTL, OSI) are respectively: 0.494, 0.548, 0.068, 0.151, 0.202, 0.873. The antioxidant parameters of all subjects were compared using the MannWhitney U-test in both groups as fertile (G3) and infertile (G1 + G2). The PON1 levels in infertile subjects were significantly higher than those in fertile subjects. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.042). The other antioxidant parameters had no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The ARE was not performed in group 3 (control) due to a methodological problem. CONCLUSIONS: PON1 levels in infertile subjects were significantly higher than those of fertile subjects.

Investigation of functional sperm membrane integrity after consequence of anti-hypoosmotic swelling test technique: an electron microscopic study.

OBJECTIVE: Infertility is described as the inability of a couple to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. Male factor is assumed to be responsible for 50% of cases of infertile couples. It is a common clinical problem, affecting approximately 13-15% of couples worldwide. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) and anti-HOS tests on sperm membrane integrity at the ultrastructural level. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-nine infertile and 10 fertile men were included in this study. The fertile and infertile subjects were classified according to Kruger and WHO criterion. All semen samples were examined and ana-yzed based on WHO guidelines. Sperm viability was determined by using the eosin Y staining method. After HOS and anti-HOS tests wore applied, the samples were evaluated at the ultrastructural level. RESULTS: Normal structural features of all regions of sperm were observed in sections of sham normospermia. Some histopathological changes wore seen in HOS and anti-HOS group sections. CONCLUSION: The HOS procedure was found not to cause degenerative changes in the sperm ultrastructure. The anti-HOS procedure can be applied in normospermic and oligospermic groups.

Ultrastructural effects of tamoxifen on uterus in rats.

Tamoxifen is a triphenylethylene derivative commonly used in the treatment of breast cancer The Wistar rats (9 weeks old, 180-200 g body weight) used in these trials were divided into two groups of 20 animals each (control and experimental group). Animals of the experimental group were given drinking water containing 200 µg/kg tamoxifen citrate for a period of 30 day. At the end of exposure, body and uterus weights were measured. There was no statistical difference in the uterus weights between the control and treated groups (p < 0,05). Squamous metaplasia, characterized by the presence of stratified squamous epithelium on the lumenal surface of the uterus and the lining of the luminal surface of uterine glands was seen in some animals that had received tamoxifen. Ultrastructural changes were revealed in the form of vacularization of cell cytoplasm and The cytoplasm contained areas of low electron density. Not only was the cytoplasm full with intense crystalized and degeneration in mitochondria.