BACKGROUND The ability of sperm to interact with the zona pellucida (ZP) plays a critical role during the process of human fertilization. The aim of this study is to determine frequency of defective sperm-ZP interaction in oligozoospermic infertile men. METHODS Sperm-ZP binding assays and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction (AR) were performed in 72 infertile men with a sperm concentration <20 x...

background: pentoxifylline (px) is a methyxanthin derivative that influences the sperm motion characteristics. in general, px has been reportedly effective in preserving sperm motility in vitro, also when administered orally to the asthenozoospermic patients. objective: the main objective of this prospective clinical trial study was to rule out the effect of oral administration of px on sperm p...

Studies over the past two decades have clearly shown that reproductive toxicants cause sperm DNA fragmentation. This DNA fragmentation can usually be detected prior to observing alterations of metaphase chromosomes in embryos. Thus, Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA)-detected DNA damage is viewed as the molecular precursor to later gross chromosome damage observed under the light microscope...

Assaying the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) activity in sperm is of great importance because it is closely implicated in sperm motility and male infertility. While a number of studies on GSK3 activity have relied on labor-intensive immunoblotting to identify phosphorylated GSK3, here we report the simple and rapid detection of GSK3 activity in mouse sperm using conventional agarose gel elect...

This study aimed to develop a protocol of semen cryopreservation of the mutton snapper Lutjanus analis. The interaction between three extenders ( pH 6.1; 7.8 and 8.2) , two concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide ( DMSO, 5 and 10%) and three cooling rates ( -90; -60 and -30°C.min-1) on the sperm motility rate and motility time were analyzed by a factorial experiment. A sample of 30 fishes ( 1,261 ...

Background: Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the semen is believed to affect fertility in men. Morphologically abnormal sperms and their relation to seminal oxidative stress in infertile and subfertile men are not clear. Objective: To correlate various sperm morphological defects with seminal oxidative stress in infertile and subfertile men. Materials and Methods: The study included 25 p...

OBJECTIVE The present study was designed to determine the effect of the freeze-thawing procedure, computer controlled rate freezing and duration for six months, on human sperm chromatin (assessed by acridine orange test), vitality, motility, and morphology. DESIGN Experimental study MATERIAL AND METHOD Twenty semen samples were obtained from patients attending the infertility unit. The seme...

BACKGROUND Human fertility is linked to sperm quality and therefore the establishment of reference values for normality is mandatory. AIMS The first aim was to establish a reference profile of men in the general population by examining the semen of partners of women with chronic anovulation. The second aim was to determine the prevalence of sperm abnormalities in this patient group. METHODS...

Defects in early meiotic events are thought to play a critical role in male infertility; however, little is known regarding the relationship between early meiotic events and the chromosomal constitution of human sperm. Thus, we analyzed testicular tissue from 26 men (9 fertile and 17 infertile men), using immunofluorescent techniques to examine meiotic chromosomes, and fluorescent in situ hybri...

The development of homologous functional bio-assays for sperm quality assessment has been a focal point of reproductive biologists in order to provide a scientifically- based diagnosis in cases of fertilization failure. The availability of viable oocytes still remains an important limiting factor for laboratories to embark on the methodology of assays that examine sperm-oocyte interaction. The ...