OBJECTIVE: To correlate sperm mitochondrial respiratory efficiency with variations in sperm motility and with sperm morphologic anomalies. METHODS: Sperm mitochondrial respiratory activity was evaluated with a polarographic assay of oxygen consumption carried out in hypotonically-treated sperm cells. A possible relationship among sperm mitochondrial respiratory efficiency, sperm motility, and morphologic anomalies was investigated. RESULTS: Mitochondrial respiratory efficiency was positively correlated with sperm motility and negatively correlated with the percentage of immotile spermatozoa. Moreover, midpiece defects impaired mitochondrial functionality. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that an increase in sperm motility requires a parallel increase in mitochondrial respiratory capacity, thereby supporting the fundamental role played by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in sperm motility of normozoospermic subjects. These results are of physiopathological relevance because they suggest that disturbances of sperm mitochondrial function and of energy production could be responsible for asthenozoospermia.
OBJECTIVE: To correlate sperm mitochondrial respiratory efficiency with variations in sperm motility and with sperm morphologic anomalies. METHODS: Sperm mitochondrial respiratory activity was evaluated with a polarographic assay of oxygen consumption carried out in hypotonically-treated sperm cells. A possible relationship among sperm mitochondrial respiratory efficiency, sperm motility, and morphologic anomalies was investigated. RESULTS: Mitochondrial respiratory efficiency was positively correlated with sperm motility and negatively correlated with the percentage of immotile spermatozoa. Moreover, midpiece defects impaired mitochondrial functionality. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that an increase in sperm motility requires a parallel increase in mitochondrial respiratory capacity, thereby supporting the fundamental role played by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in sperm motility of normozoospermic subjects. These results are of physiopathological relevance because they suggest that disturbances of sperm mitochondrial function and of energy production could be responsible for asthenozoospermia.
Authors: Alessandra Ferramosca; Annalea Conte; Lena Burri; Kjetil Berge; Francesco De Nuccio; Anna Maria Giudetti; Vincenzo Zara Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-06-07 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: A Mancini; S Raimondo; M Persano; C Di Segni; M Cammarano; G Gadotti; A Silvestrini; A Pontecorvi; E Meucci Journal: Int J Endocrinol Date: 2013-11-20 Impact factor: 3.257