Semen quality of the men from six districts in Chongqing / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the quality and spatial distribution features of semen and to evaluate the reproductive health of the males in the Chongqing section of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected semen samples by masturbation after 2 -7 days of abstinence from the men in Nan'an, Shapingba, Zhongxian, Wanzhou, Yunyang and Wushan of Chongqing, which are geographically and demographically representative of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area. We analyzed the semen quality of all the samples and evaluated the reproductive health of the men.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean value of the five semen parameters of the male subjects from the six districts was within the normal range, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, rapid progressive motile sperm, and total motile sperm. Those from Shapingba, Yunyang and Zhongxian exhibited abnormal sperm motility. According to the WHO criteria, normal value of all the semen parameters was found in less than 50% of the semen samples from the six districts, in 47% of those from Yunyang, and only 16% of those from Wanzhou. Spatial distribution maps of the semen parameters revealed significant spatial differences in seminal quality among the six districts, the highest in Yunyang, and the lowest in Wanzhou and Wushan that are located in the middle and lower reaches of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mean value of semen parameters was low in a large proportion of men in the Chongqing section of the Three-Gorge Reservoir area, with spatial differences along the Changjiang river.</p>

Effects of smoking on sperm apoptosis and semen quality of adult males in the main urban area of Chongqing / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of smoking on sperm apoptosis and semen quality of healthy adult males in the main urban area of Chongqing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the smoking habit, we divided 235 healthy adult males into a non-smoking group (n = 89) and a smoking group (n = 146). Then we detected the routine semen parameters by the computer-assisted semen analysis system and obtained the parameters of sperm apoptosis (the ratios of AN-/PI-, AN+/PI-, AN+/PI+ and AN-/PI+ sperm) by flow cytometry combined with Annexin V-FITC/PI fluorescence staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of early apoptotic sperm (AN+/PI-) was higher in the smoking than in the non-smoking group ([8.1 +/- 5.1]% vs [6.8 +/- 3.8]%; P = 0.039), but there were no significant differences between the two groups in the rate of late apoptotic sperm (AN+/PI+) ([5.6 +/- 5.2]% vs [5.5 +/- 5.1]%; P = 0.87), as well as in such routine semen indexes as semen volume, sperm density, sperm motility, sperm vitality and normal sperm morphology (P = 0.30, 0.82, 0.37, 0.81 and 0.84, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The rate of early apoptotic sperm is higher in smokers than in non-smokers, suggesting that smoking may induce early damage to sperm cells. Compared with routine semen parameters, sperm apoptosis is a more sensitive biomarker to reflect smoking-induced damage to sperm.</p>