Human sperm hyperactivation in whole semen and its association with low superoxide scavenging capacity in seminal plasma.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the very vigorous type of motility observed in the semen of some infertile men and to compare the superoxide anion scavenging capacity of the seminal plasma from these men and that from normal men.

SUBJECTS

Patients consulting for infertility related to sperm motility problems and men presenting as sperm donors.

METHODS

Motility patterns and measurements of sperm motility parameters were evaluated by computer-assisted digital image analysis system. The superoxide anion scavenging capacity of seminal plasma was measured by inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction due to the superoxide anion generated by the combination xanthine plus xanthine oxidase.

RESULTS

Spermatozoa from 9 of 68 semen samples with normal sperm concentration, morphology, and percentage of motility showed the typical motility patterns observed during hyperactivation (HA) and a significant level of HA (16% +/- 3%) as compared with those in semen (2.3% +/- 0.3%) from fertile volunteers. The superoxide anion scavenging capacity of the seminal plasma from men with sperm HA was 37% lower than that of control seminal plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

Sperm HA can occur in whole semen and is associated with a low superoxide anion scavenging capacity in seminal plasma. It could be one of the causes for idiopathic infertility.