Cocuzza Marcello, Athayde Kelly S, Agarwal Ashok, Sharma Rakesh, Pagani Rodrigo, Lucon Antonio M, Srougi Miguel, Hallak Jorge
Department of Urology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Urology. 2008 Mar;71(3):490-4. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2007.11.041.
The effects of advancing paternal age on the male reproductive system are well known, but its effects on fecundity remain controversial. Although oxidative stress is associated with poor semen quality and function, a relationship with advancing male age has not been established. The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between male age and seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in men presenting for voluntary sterilization.
We prospectively evaluated 98 fertile men who were candidates for vasectomy. These were divided into 2 age groups: less than 40 years (n = 78) and 40 or more years (n = 20). We used 46 infertile patients as positive controls. Standard semen analysis, seminal leukocyte count and ROS levels were measured in all samples. Fertile men with leukocytospermia were excluded.
The mean age of the men was 35.1 +/- 5.6 years. Men 40 years and older had significantly higher ROS levels compared with younger men (P <0.001). We observed a positive correlation between seminal ROS levels and age (r = 0.20; P = 0.040). In addition, ROS was negatively correlated with sperm concentration (r = -0.48; P <0.001) and motility (r = -0.21; P = 0.030).
Reactive oxygen species levels are significant higher in seminal ejaculates of healthy fertile men older than 40 years. ROS levels in whole ejaculate are significantly correlated to age among fertile men. Because ROS are clearly implicated in the pathogenesis of male infertility, these data suggest that delayed fatherhood may reduce the chances of pregnancy as men become progressively less fertile with age.
父亲年龄增长对男性生殖系统的影响已为人熟知，但其对生育力的影响仍存在争议。尽管氧化应激与精液质量和功能不佳有关，但与男性年龄增长之间的关系尚未确立。本研究的目的是分析自愿要求绝育的男性年龄与精液活性氧（ROS）水平之间的关系。
我们前瞻性地评估了98名有生育能力且符合输精管结扎术条件的男性。这些男性被分为两个年龄组：小于40岁（n = 78）和40岁及以上（n = 20）。我们将46名不育患者作为阳性对照。对所有样本进行标准精液分析、精液白细胞计数和ROS水平检测。排除有白细胞精子症的有生育能力男性。
这些男性的平均年龄为35.1±5.6岁。40岁及以上男性的ROS水平显著高于年轻男性（P <0.001）。我们观察到精液ROS水平与年龄呈正相关（r = 0.20；P = 0.040）。此外，ROS与精子浓度呈负相关（r = -0.48；P <0.001），与精子活力呈负相关（r = -0.21；P = 0.030）。
40岁以上健康有生育能力男性的精液中活性氧水平显著更高。在有生育能力的男性中，全精液中的ROS水平与年龄显著相关。由于ROS显然与男性不育的发病机制有关，这些数据表明，随着男性年龄增长生育能力逐渐下降，晚育可能会降低怀孕几率。
