Seminal plasma oxidative stress affects sperm morphology Singh Amit Kant1, Singh Ramji2, Chaudhari Ajay R.3, Verma Narsingh4,*, Singh Brijendra5 1Associate Professor, Dept. of Physiology, UP RIMS & R, Saifai, Etawah, India 2Additional Professor, Dept. of Physiology, AIIMS, Patna, India 3Professor & Head, Dept. of Physiology, MGIMS, Sevagram, Wardha, India 4Professor, Dept. of Physiology, KGMU, Lucknow, India 5Additional Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, AIIMS, Jodhpur, India *Corresponding author: E-mail: nsvermakgmu@gmail.com
Online published on 18 December, 2015. Abstract Introduction According to the World Health Organization (WHO) infertility is defined as “no conception after at least 12 months of unprotected intercourse”. Sperm morphology is an important index of fertility. The presence of many abnormal sperm forms indicate impaired fertility. The high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a result of oxidative stress have been associated with the peroxidation of cell membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids, thus it is hypothesised that the increased ROS level in seminal plasma due to oxidative stress may lead to sperm cell membrane defects which may cause morphological deformity in the sperm cells. Therefore, this study was undertaken with the aim to evaluate the sperm deformity index (SDI) and its relation with the ROS level in the seminal plasma of normozoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic subjects. Materials and Methods 200 semen samples were studied (100 Normozoospermic and 100 oligoasthenoteratozoospermic cases). The samples were evaluated for sperm concentration, motility, morphology, sperm deformity index and level of oxidative stress. Results The SDI is inversely related sperm concentration, Percentage Motility, Percentage Normal Morphology. The linear relation was observed between SDI and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (MDA level). Conclusion The study concluded with the remark that high level of ROS may be responsible for the morphological deformities of the sperm cells. Further, SDI score is a useful tool in identifying infertile men with high seminal ROS in infertility clinics where facilities for measuring levels of seminal ROS are not available. Top Keywords Oxidative stress, Sperm morphology, Sperm Deformity Index, Reactive Oxygen Species. Top |