Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, University Clinic of Bonn, Bonn, 53127, Germany.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, St. Joseph Hospital, University Clinic of Bochum, Bochum, 44791, Germany.
Lasers Surg Med. 2022 Apr;54(4):540-553. doi: 10.1002/lsm.23399. Epub 2021 Apr 1.
Previous studies reported that photobiomodulation (PBM) positively affects the mitochondrial respiratory chain in sperm, resulting in improved motility and velocity. As laser settings are not yet fully established, the present study aimed at optimizing PBM on human sperm. In addition, possible side-effects of PBM on sperm DNA fragmentation level and acrosomal integrity have been analyzed.
STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pulsed laser-probe (wavelength 655 nm, output power 25 mW/cm², impulse duration 200 nanoseconds) was used. Native fresh liquefied semen samples underwent radiation with energy doses of 0 (control), 4, 6, and 10 J/cm². Sperm parameters were assessed at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after radiation using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Motility and velocity of sperm from asthenozoospermic patients (n = 42) and normozoospermic controls (n = 22) were measured. The amount of DNA strand breaks was analyzed using ligation-mediated quantitative polymerase chain reaction in patients with asthenozoospermia (n = 18) and normozoospermia (n = 13). Post-irradiance acrosomal integrity was investigated using flow cytometry based on CD46 protein expression (n = 7).
Exposure to laser energy-doses of 4 and 6 J/cm² improved sperm motility and velocity in asthenozoospermic patients. PBM exhibited no significant effect on DNA fragmentation level and expression of CD46 serving as a biomarker for acrosome integrity.
PBM improves sperm motility parameters by maintaining DNA and acrosome integrity and, therefore, represents a promising new tool for assisted reproductive therapy. In particular, improving sperm motility in asthenozoospermic patients by PBM in future may contribute to increasing the chance for successful intrauterine insemination. The present trial has no clinical registration number, as only in vitro studies were performed. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and performed according to the Declaration of Helsinki. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2021 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
先前的研究表明，光生物调节（PBM）可积极影响精子中的线粒体呼吸链，从而提高精子的活力和速度。由于激光设置尚未完全确定，本研究旨在优化人精子的 PBM。此外，还分析了 PBM 对精子 DNA 碎片化水平和顶体完整性的可能副作用。
研究设计/材料和方法：使用脉冲激光探头（波长 655nm，输出功率 25mW/cm²，脉冲持续时间 200 纳秒）。原生新鲜液化精液样本接受 0（对照）、4、6 和 10J/cm² 的辐射能剂量。使用计算机辅助精子分析系统在辐射后 0、30、60、90 和 120 分钟评估精子参数。测量来自弱精症患者（n=42）和正常精子计数对照者（n=22）的精子活力和速度。使用连接介导的定量聚合酶链反应分析弱精症患者（n=18）和正常精子计数对照者（n=13）的 DNA 链断裂量。使用基于 CD46 蛋白表达的流式细胞术研究照射后的顶体完整性（n=7）。
暴露于 4 和 6J/cm²的激光能量剂量可改善弱精症患者的精子活力和速度。PBM 对 DNA 碎片化水平和顶体完整性的标志物 CD46 的表达没有显著影响。
PBM 通过维持 DNA 和顶体完整性来改善精子运动参数，因此是辅助生殖治疗的有前途的新工具。特别是，通过 PBM 在未来改善弱精症患者的精子活力可能有助于增加宫内授精的成功机会。本试验没有临床注册号，因为仅进行了体外研究。该研究得到了当地伦理委员会的批准，并按照赫尔辛基宣言进行。《激光外科学与医学》由 Wiley Periodicals LLC 出版。
