ascorbic-acid and Varicocele

This study was aimed to assess the antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds in semen of infertile men. Seventy-four infertile patients were grouped according to their clinical diagnosis: genitourinary infection, varicocele, idiopathic infertility. Semen samples of fertile men represent the control. Semen characteristics were evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data was quantified with a mathematical formula, which provides numerical scores. Spectrophotometric and HPLC methods were used to measure the amount of reduced (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG), ascorbic acid (AA) and malondialdehyde (MDA, marker of lipid peroxidation) and the activity of glutathione reductase, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase. Infertile groups showed significantly decreased values of sperm parameters vs.. In infection and varicocele groups, the seminal MDA levels were significantly increased when compared to controls (p < 0.001), indicating an alteration of oxidative status and a peroxidative damage. In infection and varicocele groups, AA levels were reduced (p < 0.05) vs. control; in the varicocele group, the GSH levels were also decreased (p < 0.05). Significantly higher CAT activity was observed in infection and varicocele groups vs. fertile men (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). The GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly decreased in varicocele and idiopathic infertility groups vs. control (p < 0.01). The study of the alteration of a single parameter of oxidative stress or of the antioxidant system may not have a relevant clinical value to estimate male fertilising potential and the background of infertility causes, since complex and multifactorial mechanisms are involved in different pathologies. In our study, each pathology is characterised by a definite pattern of markers such as MDA and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds. In the different pathologies related to infertility, the identification of the complex of involved parameters could be useful in the diagnosis, prognosis and in the choice of a possible treatment such as specific antioxidant supplements.

Topics: Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Biomarkers; Catalase; Glutathione; Humans; Infertility, Male; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Malondialdehyde; Oxidative Stress; Semen; Spermatozoa; Urinary Tract Infections; Varicocele; Young Adult

Infertile males with varicocele have the highest percentage of sperm cells with damaged DNA, compared to other infertile groups. Antioxidant treatment is known to enhance the integrity of sperm DNA; however, there are no data on the effects in varicocele patients. We thus investigated the potential benefits of antioxidant treatment specifically in grade I varicocele males. Twenty infertile patients with grade I varicocele were given multivitamins (1500 mg L-Carnitine, 60 mg vitamin C, 20 mg coenzyme Q10, 10 mg vitamin E, 200 μg vitamin B9, 1 μg vitamin B12, 10 mg zinc, 50 μg selenium) daily for three months. Semen parameters including total sperm count, concentration, progressive motility, vitality, and morphology were determined before and after treatment. In addition, sperm DNA fragmentation and the amount of highly degraded sperm cells were analyzed by Sperm Chromatin Dispersion. After treatment, patients showed an average relative reduction of 22.1% in sperm DNA fragmentation (p = 0.02) and had 31.3% fewer highly degraded sperm cells (p = 0.07). Total numbers of sperm cells were increased (p = 0.04), but other semen parameters were unaffected. These data suggest that sperm DNA integrity in grade I varicocele patients may be improved by oral antioxidant treatment.

Topics: Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Carnitine; Cell Survival; Dietary Supplements; DNA; DNA Damage; DNA Fragmentation; Female; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Pregnancy; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Ubiquinone; Varicocele; Vitamin B Complex; Vitamin E; Zinc

Significantly higher levels of oxidants (malonaldehyde and nitric oxide) and reduced levels of antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbic acid) are seen in semen of infertile men with varicocele. Seminal oxidative stress (OS) seen in men with varicocele is associated with sperm motility and grade of varicocele.

Topics: Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Case-Control Studies; Catalase; Glutathione Peroxidase; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Malondialdehyde; Nitric Oxide; Oxidants; Semen; Semen Analysis; Superoxide Dismutase; Up-Regulation; Varicocele

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Deoxyguanosine; DNA, Mitochondrial; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Oxidative Stress; Semen; Spermatozoa; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Varicocele

We examined changes due to oxidative damage to spermatozoa and alterations in antioxidant capacity in subfertile patients with varicocele before and after varicocelectomy in a prospective study.. A total of 30 young subfertile male patients with varicocele were recruited in this study. Varicocele was diagnosed by physical examination and Doppler ultrasound. Semen analysis was performed in the 30 patients before and 6 months after varicocelectomy using a computer assisted semen analyzer. The parameters for evaluating oxidative stress changes were 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA in sperm, as detected by polymerase chain reaction, the 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine) content in spermatozoa DNA, as measured by a high performance liquid chromatography electrochemical method, and seminal plasma protein thiols and ascorbic acid, as measured by spectrophotometric methods.. Semen quality, including motility, morphology and sperm density, was improved in 22 patients (73.3%) after varicocelectomy. The incidence of 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA in sperm was 40% (12 of 30 patients) and 13.3% (4 of 30) before and after surgery, respectively. Mean +/- SD 8-OHdG content in sperm DNA, and seminal plasma protein thiols and ascorbic acid were 10.27 +/- 2.24/10(5) 2'-deoxyguanosine, 0.77 +/- 0.75 nmole/ml and 1.87 +/- 0.40 mg/dl before operation, and 5.95 +/- 1.46/10(5) 2'-deoxyguanosine, 3.00 +/- 1.17 nmole/ml and 3.12 +/- 0.94 mg/dl after surgery, respectively. The incidence of 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA in sperm and the level of 8-OHdG in sperm DNA were decreased, and seminal plasma protein thiols and ascorbic acid were increased significantly in all 30 patients after varicocelectomy. Also, in the 8 patients in whom semen quality did not improve after surgery a significant decrease in 8-OHdG in sperm DNA, and a significant increase in seminal plasma protein thiols and ascorbic acid were observed.. Subfertile patients with varicocele had a significant decrease in oxidative damage in sperm DNA and an increase in antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma after varicocelectomy, indicating that surgery is effective treatment in such patients.

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Deoxyguanosine; DNA, Mitochondrial; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Oxidative Stress; Prospective Studies; Semen; Spermatozoa; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Varicocele

To assess the relation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in the internal spermatic vein blood compared to the peripheral venous blood.. Sixty-eight infertile oligoasthenozoospemic patients associated with varicocele were investigated. During inguinal varicocelectomy, blood samples of internal spermatic as well as median cubital veins were withdrawn. Three ROS factors (malondialdehyde [MDA], hydrogen peroxide H(2)O(2), nitric oxide [NO]) and four antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [Cat], glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and vitamin C) were estimated in these blood samples.. Mean levels of tested ROS factors were significantly higher in the internal spermatic venous blood compared to those in the peripheral one (mean+/-SD) (MDA 18.7+/-1.4 nmol/mL vs. 15.4+/-1.4 nmol/mL, H(2)O(2) 43.6+/-8.0 micromol/mL vs. 30.8+/-8.1 micromol/mL, NO 2.3+/-0.5 nmol/L vs. 1.6+/-0.4 nmol/L, P<0.01). Mean levels of tested antioxidants were significantly lower in the internal spermatic venous blood compared to those in the peripheral one (superoxide dismutase 1 690.7+/-130.0 U/mL vs. 1 818.5+/-143.0 U/mL, catalase 38.9+/-6.1 mol/L vs. 47.9+/-10.2 mol/L, GPx 20.4+/-8.1 U/mL vs. 23.0+/-8.4 U/mL, vitamin C 0.3+/-0.1 vs. 0.4+/-0.1 mg/dL, P<0.05).. Internal spermatic venous blood of infertile male cases associated with varicocele demonstrated elevated levels of ROS and decreased levels of antioxidants compared to peripheral venous circulation.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Catalase; Glutathione Peroxidase; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Infertility, Male; Male; Malondialdehyde; Middle Aged; Nitric Oxide; Prospective Studies; Reactive Oxygen Species; Spermatic Cord; Superoxide Dismutase; Varicocele; Veins

To examine glutathione S-transferase M1 (GST M1) gene polymorphism and male infertility in Taiwanese patients with varicocele, 80 young male patients with varicocele (group 1), 62 young male patients with subclinical varicocele (group 2) and 60 normal young males (group 3) were recruited in this study.. GST M1 null homozygous genotype [GST M1-] and the occurrence of a 4977 bp deletion of sperm mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were determined by polymerase chain reaction. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) content of sperm DNA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.. The frequencies of GST M1- genotype were 43.8, 41.9 and 45% for patients in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In group 1 patients with GST M1- genotype, the frequency of the presence of the 4977 bp deletion in sperm mtDNA (54.3%) was significantly higher than that of the patients without the 4977 bp deletion in sperm mtDNA (45.7%, OR: 2.63, P = 0.04). Patients of groups 1 and 2 with GST M1- genotype had significantly higher 8-OHdG content in sperm DNA and lower protein thiols and ascorbic acid in seminal plasma than those with GST M1+ genotype.. GST M1- genotype predisposes to increased oxidative damage to sperm of patients with varicocele.

Topics: 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Deoxyguanosine; DNA, Mitochondrial; Gene Deletion; Gene Frequency; Genotype; Glutathione Transferase; Homozygote; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Polymorphism, Genetic; Reference Values; Semen; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Varicocele

To examine oxidative damage to blood proteins in the spermatic vein and seminal plasma antioxidant capacity of patients with varicocele, 30 young male patients with varicocele (group 1), 25 young male patients with subclinical varicocele (group 2), and 15 normal young males without varicocele (group 3) were recruited in this study. Varicocele and subclinical varicocele were confirmed by physical examination and Doppler ultrasonography. Blood samples were drawn from peripheral and spermatic veins before varicocelectomy. Plasma protein carbonyls were measured by a spectrophotometric assay after reacting with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Protein thiols and ascorbic acid of seminal plasma were measured by spectrophotometric methods. We found that plasma protein carbonyls in the spermatic veins were significantly higher than those of corresponding peripheral veins in all 30 patients in group 1 and 12 patients in group 2 receiving varicocelectomy. Protein carbonyls in the spermatic veins of patients with varicocele (3.72 +/- 0.56 nmole/mg protein) and patients with subclinical varicocele (3.50 +/- 0.30 nmole/mg protein) were found to be higher than those of the control (2.35 +/- 0.33 nmole/mg protein). Protein thiols were 0.97 +/- 0.96, 1.50 +/- 0.89, and 3.49 +/- 0.81 nmole/ml, and ascorbic acid levels were 1.87 +/- 0.42, 2.13 +/- 0.24, and 2.38 +/- 0.07 mg/dl, in seminal plasma of the patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Seminal plasma protein thiols and ascorbic acid levels in group 1 were significantly lower than those in groups 2 and 3, respectively. These results indicate that oxidative stress in the patients with varicocele and subclinical varicocele was higher than that of the control. We suggest that plasma protein carbonyls, and protein thiols and ascorbic acid of seminal plasma are useful markers for the assessment of oxidative stress in patients with varicocele and subclinical varicocele.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Humans; Male; Oxidative Stress; Prospective Studies; Semen; Seminal Plasma Proteins; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Varicocele; Vitamin A