Increased rates of phosphatidylserine translocation on spermatid and spermatozoa from men with azoospermia [Aumento das taxas de translocação da fosfatidilserina nos espermatídeos e espermatozóides de homens com azoospermia]

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

Almeida C (Author) FMUP; sousa, m (Author) ICBAS; Viana, P (Author) Other; Goncalves, A (Author) Other; Silva, J (Author) Other; Ferras, L (Author) Other; barros, a (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Revista Iberoamericana de Fertilidad y Reproduccion Humana

Vol. 24 No. 2

Pages: 101-108

ISSN: 1132-0249

Publisher: Sociedad Espanola de Fertilidad

Indexing

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-007-J7W

Abstract (EN): a) Objectives: Determination of the rates of apoptosis on spermatid and spermatozoa from men with azoospermia. b) Study design: Quantitative evaluation of phosphatidylserine translocation with distinction between live, apoptotic and necrotic cells. c) Study localization: University of Porto, Portugal. d) Characteristics of the study population: Under informed consent, 19 azoospermic men were analysed (5 with anejaculation, 7 with obstructive azoospermia, 7 with secretory azoospermia) and 6 normozoospermic men as controls. All have normal karyotypes and absence of Y chromosome microdeletions. e) Main interventions: A testicular biopsy was undertaken in order to recover testicular spermatids and spermatozoa. On semen samples, translocation of phosphatidylserine was studied on the semen fraction and, after gradient centrifugation and swim-up, on the swim-up fraction. After incubation with annexin V and propidium iodide, the different cells types were quantified on an epifluorescence microscope. f) Main outcomes: The percentage of live, early apoptotic, late apoptotic and necrotic spermatids and spermatozoa, was evaluated on the different groups. Differences between groups were analysed by (2 test with 5% significance level. g) Results: Testis shows higher percentages of early apoptotic and necrotic spermatids and spermatozoa, and semen shows higher percentages of live and late apoptotic spermatozoa. Comparisons between testicular syndromes revealed significant higher proportions of live cells in secretory azoospermia followed by obstructive, and significant higher percentages of early apoptotic cells in anejaculation followed by obstructive azoospermia. h) Conclusions: The higher percentages of apoptotic rates on testis, especially on anejaculation and obstructive azoospermia, suggest a strong negative impact of the absence of ejaculation and of excretory duct obstruction on testicular spermatids and spermatozoa. The increased rates of late apoptosis on the semen fraction, suggest a post-testicular event that activates the apoptotic cascade.

Language: Spanish

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific