ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the association between seminal oxidative stress and human sperm acrosin activity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>It is a prospective study consisting of 30 infertile men and 12 fertile normozoospermic volunteers. A full history, clinical examination and scrotal ultrasound were done to exclude other related factors such as smoking and varicocele. Presence of white blood cells (WBCs) in semen samples was evaluated by peroxidase staining. Lipid peroxidation in spermatozoa was induced after incubating with ferrous sulphate (4 mmol/L) and sodium ascorbate (20 mmol/L). Induced peroxidation of spermatozoa was assessed by determining the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Acrosin activity was measured using the gelatinolysis technique. The halo diameters around the sperm heads and the percentages of spermatozoa showing halo formation were evaluated. An acrosin activity index was calculated by multiplying the halo diameter by the halo formation rate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A significant difference was observed in acrosin activity parameters and TBARS levels between samples with WBCs (1 multiply 10(6)/mL of ejaculate) and those without. This difference was also noted between the normozoospermic and the oligoasthenoteratozoospermic semen samples. The TBARS production by spermatozoa had a significant negative correlation with the acrosin activity index (r = -0.89, P 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The presence of oxidative stress in an individual with leukocytospermia and/or abnormal semen parameters is associated with impaired sperm function as measured by its acrosin activity.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Acrosin , Metabolism , Gelatin , Metabolism , In Vitro Techniques , Infertility, Male , Metabolism , Pathology , Leukocyte Count , Lipid Peroxidation , Oxidative Stress , Physiology , Semen , Cell Biology , Sperm Motility , Physiology , Spermatozoa , Metabolism , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances , MetabolismABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible role of herpes simplex virus type-I [HSV-I] infection and apoptosis in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus vulgaris [PV]. The study included 29 patients with PV and 7 apparently healthy subjects as controls. The patients were grouped into three groups: Group I [recent acute onset [6 cases]], group II [chronic exacerbated under steroid therapy [16 cases]] and group III [chronic controlled with steroid therapy [7 cases]]. Apoptosis was detected in peripheral blood monocytes [PBMC] using flow cytometry and that in the skin by TUNEL. HSV-I DNA was detected in PBMC and the skin using PCR. The antibody titer of serum IgG for HSV-I was detected using indirect immunofluorescence technique [IF]. The study concluded that apoptosis is increased in PV. Both HSV-I and apoptosis have to be considered in the immune-pathogenesis and can be used for immuno-modulation and suggestion of strategy of therapy or even to prevent exacerbation