Lopes Fernando, Pinto-Pinho Patrícia, Gaivão Isabel, Martins-Bessa Ana, Gomes Zélia, Moutinho Osvaldo, Oliveira Maria Manuel, Peixoto Francisco, Pinto-Leite Rosário
School of Health and Care Professions, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
Genetics/Andrology Laboratory, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, E.P.E, Vila Real, Portugal.
Andrologia. 2021 Jun;53(5):e14027. doi: 10.1111/and.14027. Epub 2021 Mar 8.
Supraphysiological ROS levels can lead to apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and DNA and protein damage. This pilot study aimed to investigate the sperm oxidative damage in subfertile men, to describe the relationship between the antioxidant system and ROS. Sixty-four semen samples were categorised according to the evaluated routine parameters (WHO, WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 2010). Results were cross-referenced with the DNA damage [Comet (n = 53) and TUNEL (n = 49) assays], antioxidant enzyme activity [SOD (n = 51), CAT (n = 48) and GST (n = 48)], and content of total thiols (n = 36), lipid hydroperoxides (n = 35) and MDA (n = 31). Compared to pathospermic samples, normozoospermic presented 40%-45% fewer spermatozoa with fragmented DNA, 19% fewer hydroperoxides, and slightly higher total thiols and MDA levels. Asthenozoospermic/asthenoteratozoospermic samples had the lowest GST activity. SOD and CAT showed a similar trend. Our results evidenced significant positive correlations between DNA damage and immotile spermatozoa; SOD and CAT, GST and total thiols; CAT and GST; total thiols and sperm concentration; and MDA levels and head/midpiece abnormalities and hydroperoxides. This work contributes to the existing body of knowledge by showing that the oxidative status correlates with the classic sperm analysis parameters. Oxidative stress and DNA damage evaluation might be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic tool in cases of idiopathic male subfertility.
超生理水平的活性氧（ROS）可导致细胞凋亡、脂质过氧化以及DNA和蛋白质损伤。这项初步研究旨在调查不育男性的精子氧化损伤情况，描述抗氧化系统与ROS之间的关系。根据评估的常规参数（世界卫生组织，《世界卫生组织人类精液检查与处理实验室手册》，2010年）对64份精液样本进行分类。将结果与DNA损伤[彗星实验（n = 53）和末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法（TUNEL，n = 49）]、抗氧化酶活性[超氧化物歧化酶（SOD，n = 51）、过氧化氢酶（CAT，n = 48）和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶（GST，n = 48）]以及总硫醇含量（n = 36）、脂质氢过氧化物含量（n = 35）和丙二醛（MDA，n = 31）进行交叉参照。与病理精子样本相比，正常精子样本中DNA碎片化的精子减少了40%-45%，氢过氧化物减少了19%，总硫醇和MDA水平略高。弱精子症/弱畸精子症样本的GST活性最低。SOD和CAT呈现相似趋势。我们的结果证明DNA损伤与不动精子之间、SOD与CAT之间、GST与总硫醇之间、CAT与GST之间、总硫醇与精子浓度之间以及MDA水平与头部/中段异常和氢过氧化物之间存在显著正相关。这项工作通过表明氧化状态与经典的精子分析参数相关，为现有知识体系做出了贡献。在特发性男性不育病例中，氧化应激和DNA损伤评估可能是一种有价值的诊断和预后工具。
