Phosphatidylserine translocation in human spermatozoa from impaired spermatogenesis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Almeida C (Author) FMUP; sousa, m (Author) ICBAS; barros, a (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Reproductive BioMedicine Online

Vol. 19

Pages: 770-777

ISSN: 1472-6483

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 18 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-E7A

DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.10.002

Abstract (EN): The aim of the present study was to evaluate phosphatidylserine translocation in specific patient groups and compare the rates of apoptosis between ejaculated and testicular spermatozoa. Fifty-six patients undergoing infertility treatments were included in the present study. Semen samples (n = 37) were obtained from cases with normozoospermia (it = 9) and abnormal semen parameters (n = 28). Testicular biopsy was performed in 19 patients, eight with obstructive and six with non-obstructive (hypospermatogenesis) azoospermia, and in five patients without azoospermia (anejaculation and oligozoospermia). Phosphatidylserine externalization was assessed using annexin-V binding and fluorescence microscopy, and propidium iodide exclusion tests were used to distinguish live from dead cells. In semen, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia showed significantly increased rates of sperm apoptosis (60.3 +/- 12.9) than normozoospermia (47.5 +/- 10.2). In testis, hypospermatogenesis (63.3 +/- 10.3) and obstructive azoospermia (63.6 +/- 15.1) showed significantly increased rates of sperm apoptosis than non-azoospermic patients (49.6 +/- 25.5). Comparisons between semen and testis showed that oligozoospermia had significantly higher rates of sperm apoptosis in semen (57.9 +/- 11.9) than in testis (29.4 +/- 1.1). The results suggest the presence of a post-testicular apoptotic induction factor and the potential beneficial use of testicular spermatozoa in clinical treatments.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8