Qiaoxin Zhang1, Yingxiu Xiao2, Weiduan Zhuang2, Bizhen Cheng3, Lei Zheng4, Yingmu Cai3, Huanbin Zhou3, Qian Wang5. 1. Laboratory Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People's Republic of China. 2. Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People's Republic of China. 4. Laboratory Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. 5. Laboratory Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: bestzhang2002@sina.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To reveal the impact of 2 biovars of Ureaplasma urealyticum on the sperm of infertile men by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). METHODS: A total of 223 infertile and 146 fertile men were recruited into the study. Standard semen analysis was performed. Culturing and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to identify biovars of U urealyticum in the semen. Semen ROS, malondialdehyde, and total superoxide dismutase levels were measured. Sperm nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage was assessed of by sperm chromatin structure assay and single-cell gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Biovar II infection was more frequent in infertile men (P=.036). When compared with uninfected individuals, biovar II-infected men displayed decreases in spermatozoa concentration (P=.041); biovar II and mix-infected men displayed decreases in total motility (P=.015; P=.014, respectively) and increase in leukocyte counts (P=.004; P=.003, respectively). Except for total superoxide dismutase level, indicators for peroxide including ROS level, malondialdehyde level, DNA fragmentation index and high DNA stainable in sperm chromatin structure assay, and tail moment in single-cell gel electrophoresis exhibited the significant differences between both infected groups vs the uninfected group (P<05). CONCLUSION: Compared with biovar I, biovar II is more likely to cause male infertility. Increased leukocyte counts, ROS level elevation, and subsequent spermatozoa membrane and DNA damage may be involved in this pathogenesis.
OBJECTIVE: To reveal the impact of 2 biovars of Ureaplasma urealyticum on the sperm of infertilemen by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). METHODS: A total of 223 infertile and 146 fertile men were recruited into the study. Standard semen analysis was performed. Culturing and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to identify biovars of U urealyticum in the semen. Semen ROS, malondialdehyde, and total superoxide dismutase levels were measured. Sperm nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage was assessed of by sperm chromatin structure assay and single-cell gel electrophoresis. RESULTS:Biovar II infection was more frequent in infertilemen (P=.036). When compared with uninfected individuals, biovar II-infected men displayed decreases in spermatozoa concentration (P=.041); biovar II and mix-infected men displayed decreases in total motility (P=.015; P=.014, respectively) and increase in leukocyte counts (P=.004; P=.003, respectively). Except for total superoxide dismutase level, indicators for peroxide including ROS level, malondialdehyde level, DNA fragmentation index and high DNA stainable in sperm chromatin structure assay, and tail moment in single-cell gel electrophoresis exhibited the significant differences between both infected groups vs the uninfected group (P<05). CONCLUSION: Compared with biovar I, biovar II is more likely to cause male infertility. Increased leukocyte counts, ROS level elevation, and subsequent spermatozoa membrane and DNA damage may be involved in this pathogenesis.