Understanding the impact of varicocele on sperm capacitation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the seminal sample quality of men with varicocele and sperm capacitation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Academic hospital. PATIENT(S): Seventy-six men (19 control and 57 with varicocele) were analyzed. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples were submitted to a discontinuous density gradient for sperm selection. Sperm capacitation was induced using a human tubal fluid medium supplemented with bovine serum albumin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): After capacitation induction, the sperm were assessed by capacitation state, computer-assisted sperm motility, mitochondrial activity, membrane integrity, acrosome reaction, and intracellular oxidative stress. RESULT(S): The capacitation period increased sperm motility, showing an increase in the average path velocity and a decrease in the straightness compared with sperm before capacitation (paired analysis). After capacitation, the rate of capacitated sperm, motility, and mitochondrial activity showed differences between groups (control and varicocele). The varicocele group showed lower mitochondrial activity and capacitation than the control group. On the other hand, no significant differences were observed in the other variables evaluated. CONCLUSION(S): Varicocele men showed less viable sperm and mitochondrial activity than control men after capacitation sperm. The induction of capacitation altered motility by increasing path velocity and decreasing straightness in all of the studied groups, evidencing the occurrence of hyperactivation.

SARS-CoV-2 is not found in human semen during mild COVID-19 acute stage.

The aim of this study was to verify the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the seminal sample of men during the acute phase of COVID-19. A prospective study was performed with inclusion of twenty-two men diagnosed with COVID-19 through RT-PCR from pharyngeal smear samples and who were in the acute phase of infection. These men were evaluated regarding medical history and physical examination. Furthermore, seminal samples of each men were collected 7, 14 and 21 days after the infection was confirmed. The sample were used for seminal analysis, as well as for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR technique. In addition, cell culture was performed with subsequent repetition of the analysis of viral presence. None of the semen samples collected was positive for the detection of the virus that causes COVID-19. Most of the men evaluated had a mild condition and the loss of smell was the most frequent symptom. There were no significant changes in seminal parameters within the period of study. Based on our pilot data, patients with a mild form of COVID-19 in the acute stage of the disease are unlikely to have SARS-CoV-2 in semen.

Analysis of the Functional Aspects of Sperm and Testicular Oxidative Stress in Individuals Undergoing Metabolic Surgery.

PURPOSE: Metabolic surgery is a recommended treatment for obese patients that results in BMI reduction; however, the observed impact of this therapy on male fertility is inconsistent. This research aimed to study the effects of BMI changes after metabolic surgery on seminal analysis, sex hormonal profile, sperm functional integrity, and the seminal plasma lipid peroxidation levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 15 patients for whom metabolic surgery was recommended. The patients were evaluated by the techniques proposed in this study before and after the surgical procedure for 12 months. In each analysis, the male sex hormonal profile, semen analysis, sperm functional integrity, and seminal lipid peroxidation levels were assessed. RESULTS: The surgery resulted in BMI reduction and improvement in seminal characteristics and male sex hormone profile. The semen analysis showed increases in volume, sperm progressive motility, and in sperm morphology and a decrease in immotile sperms. Sperm mitochondrial activity and sperm DNA integrity were improved, and the levels of seminal lipid peroxidation were decreased. The hormonal profile showed lower levels of estradiol and highest levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and testosterone. CONCLUSION: BMI changes resulting from this treatment and its metabolic consequences can be associated with changes in the male fertile potential, leading to an improvement in the seminal quality, male sex hormone profile, sperm functional aspects, and levels of seminal lipid peroxidation, thus decreasing the testicular oxidative stress.

Semen quality from patients affected by seminomatous and non-seminomatous testicular tumor.

Testicular cancer is considered a rare disease affecting approximately 1% to 2% of the male population. This neoplasm has a cure rate of over 95%; as a result, a major concern is the future of fertility of carriers from this disease. There are several histological subtypes of testicular tumors; however, the Testicular Germ Cell Tumors (TGCTs), comprising both seminoma and non-seminoma tumors, are considered the main subtypes of testicular neoplasms. TGCT are characterized by being a solid tumor that mostly affects young men aged between 15 and 40 years old. While TGCT subtypes may have an invasive potential, seminoma subtype does not affect other cells rather than germ cells, while non-seminomas have more invasive properties and can achieve somatic cells; thus, having a more aggressive nature. This research intends to review the literature regarding information about sperm parameters, correlating the data found in those studies to the subfertility and infertility of patients with TCGTs. Furthermore, it will also correlate the data to the non-seminoma and seminoma histological subtypes from pre- and post-cancer therapy. PubMed databases were used. Searched keywords included: seminoma AND non-seminoma; male infertility; germ cell tumor; chemotherapy AND radiotherapy. Only articles published in English were considered. Current studies demonstrate that both TGCT subtypes promote deleterious effects on semen quality resulting in decreased sperm concentration, declined sperm total motility and an increase in the morphology alterations. However, findings suggest that the non-seminoma subtype effects are more pronounced and deleterious. More studies will be necessary to clarify the behavior of seminoma and non-seminoma tumors implicating the reproductive health of male patients.