[Bacterial culture of donor semen: Analysis of results from 2008 to 2018].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in donor semen and the effect of bacterial infection on semen quality. METHODS: We performed bacterial culture on and counted the bacterial colonies (BC) in the semen samples collected from 4 897 sperm donors from 2008 to 2018 and divided them into groups A (BC <104 cfu/ml, n = 4 229), B (BC ≥104 cfu/ml, n = 150) and C (BC = 0 cfu/ml, n = 518). Using the biochemical reaction system of the French Biological Merry Emmanuel Company, we identified the bacterial species in group B, subjected all the semen samples to SCA computer assisted semen analysis, and compared the semen quality among different groups. RESULTS: In the 4 897 semen samples, hybrid bacterial contamination was found in 6 (0.12%) and non-hybrid bacteria in 4 379 (89.42%), including 150 (3.43%) in group B. In the semen samples with BC ≥104 cfu/ml, Gram-negative (G－) bacteria were observed in 104 (69.33%), mainly including Escherichia coli, followed by Proteusbacillus vulgaris and Enterobacteria, Gram-positive cocci (G+) in 39 (26.00%), G－ bacteria in 4 (2.67%) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 3 (2.00%). Compared with group C, groups A and B showed remarkably reduced total sperm count (P < 0.05) and percentage of progressively motile sperm (P < 0.05) but no statistically significant differences in the semen liquefaction time, semen PH value, total sperm motility or the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial culture of donor semen revealed a positive rate of 89.42% and varied the bacterial species, mainly including G－ bacteria. And the semen quality decreased with the increase of bacterial colonies.

[Expressions of SLC22A14 and SPAG6 proteins in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients.]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of solute carrier family 22 member 14 (SLC22A14) and sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) in the sperm of idiopathic asthenospermia men. METHODS: We collected semen samples from 50 idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and another 50 normal sperm donors, purified the sperm by discontinuous density centrifugation on Percoll gradients, and then determined the mRNA and protein expressions of SLC22A14 and SPAG6 by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the normal controls, the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients showed significantly decreased mRNA expressions of SLC22A14 (0.77 ± 0.08 vs 0.53 ± 0.10, P<0.01) and SPAG6 (0.78 ± 0.09 vs0.52 ± 0.10 , P<0.01) and protein expressions of SLC22A14 (0.80 ± 0.09 vs 0.55 ± 0.10 , P<0.01) and SPAG6 (0.78 ± 0.09 vs 0.56 ± 0.09, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: T The expressions of SLC22A14 and SPAG6 are reduced in the sperm of the patients with idiopathic asthenospermia, which may be one of the important causes of asthenospermia.

[Expression of TEKT4 protein decreases in the ejaculated spermatozoa of idiopathic asthenozoospermic men].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of the TEKT4 protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia. METHODS: We separated and purified the ejaculated sperm from idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermic men by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, and detected the distribution and the expressions of TEKT4 mRNA and TEKT4 protein by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: RT-PCR revealed that the expression of TEKT4 mRNA was significantly lower in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients than in those of the normozoospermic men (0.59 +/- 0.13 vs 0.75 +/- 0.15, t = 4.325, P < 0.05), and Western blot confirmed the results of RT-PCR (0.48 +/- 0.14 vs 0.69 +/- 0.13, t = 5.939, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of TEKT4 is significantly decreased in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients, which might be one of the causes of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

[Expression of SEPT4 protein in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermic men].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of the SEPT4 protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia. METHODS: Samples of ejaculated sperm from idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients and normozoospermic men were separated and purified by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, the distribution and expression of SEPT4 in the sperm samples were determined by immunocytochemistry, and the expressions of SEPT4 mRNA and SEPT4 protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Immunocytochemistry showed that the expression of SEPT4, located in the annulus, was significantly reduced in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients (t = 3.452, P < 0.01). RT-PCR revealed that the expression of SEPT4 mRNA was significantly lower in the sperm of the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients than in those of the normozoospermic men (t = 3.521, P < 0.05). Western blot confirmed the results of RT-PCR (t = 5.872, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of SEPT4 is significantly decreased in the ejaculated sperm of idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients, which might be one of the causes of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

[CatSper1 protein and idiopathic asthenozoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of the cation channel of sperm 1 (CatSper1) protein in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia. METHODS: Sperm samples from patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were separated by Percoll discontinuous density gradients, and the distribution and expression of the CatSper1 protein were determined by immunocytochemistry. Western blotting was used to detect the different expressions of CatSper1 in the ejaculated sperm from the normal control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups, followed by statistical analyses. RESULTS: The expression of CatSper1, located in the principle piece of the sperm tail, was reduced significantly in the samples from the idiopathic asthenozoospermia patients as compared with the normal controls (t = 2.188, P = 0.042). The relative contents of the CatSper1 protein in the sperm of the control, mild asthenozoospermia, moderate asthenozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia groups were 0.806 +/- 0.266, 0.669 +/- 0.207, 0.505 +/- 0.214 and 0.295 +/- 0.162, respectively, significantly decreased in the asthenozoospermia patients in comparison with the normal controls (P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of progressively motile sperm and the relative content of the CatSper1 protein (r = 0.633, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The decreased or abnormal expression of the CatSper1 protein may be a factor involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic asthenozoospermia.

Sperm donation and its application in China: a 7-year multicenter retrospective study.

Sperm donation in China is different from that in other countries due to cultural, social and political factors. This research presents the current status of sperm donation in Mainland China and highlights some problems. Between January 2003 and December 2009, 19 471 sperm donors were screened totally and 6467 donors (33.2%) were recruited. The primary reasons for non-recruitment were either inadequate semen parameters (55.0%) or positive results for sexually transmitted diseases (7.9%). There were 327 (1.7%) qualified donors who withdrew from the program because of frustration related to failed semen parameters, participation merely for free medical tests or job transfer. A questionnaire investigating donor intention, as well as other concerns associated with sperm donation, was distributed to 516 potential donors. All potential donors indicated their primary motivation as altruism, while 90.9% mentioned monetary reward as a second motivating factor. Approximately 93.4% of donors expressed some apprehension about the risk of consanguineous mating and the protection of their identity. Over the past 7 years, 488 389 vials of donors' semen have been cryopreserved. In 36 438 artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID) cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate was 23.9% and the live birth rate was 16.6%. In 7148 in vitro fertilization cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate was 45.8% and the live birth rate was 35.2%. Human sperm banks have been strictly monitored to ensure that each sperm donor can only impregnate five women nationwide. There is still a large gap between the supply and demand for sperm donation which may be solved by updated guidelines.