Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect. G6PD plays a key role in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a major source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for oxidation-reduction reductions involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species such as H₂O₂. We hypothesized that G6PD deficiency may reduce the amount of NADPH in sperms, thereby inhibiting the detoxification of H₂O₂, which could potentially affect their motility and viability, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infertility. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from four males with G6PD deficiency and eight healthy males as a control. In both groups, motile sperms were isolated from the seminal fluid and incubated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 120 µM concentrations of H2O2. After 1 hour incubation at 37℃, sperms were evaluated for motility and viability. RESULTS: Incubation of sperms with 10 and 20 µM H₂O₂ led to very little decrease in motility and viability, but motility decreased notably in both groups in 40, 60, and 80 µM H₂O₂, and viability decreased in both groups in 40, 60, 80, and 120 µM H₂O₂. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the G6PD-deficient group and controls. CONCLUSION: G6PD deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂, and the reducing equivalents necessary for protection against H₂O₂ are most likely produced by other pathways. Therefore, G6PD deficiency cannot be considered as major risk factor for male infertility.

Evaluate the liver function in hyperthyroidism patients

Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolisms of all cells including hepatocytes, and hence, modulate hepatic function. Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders characterized by increased secretion of thyroid hormones T3 and/or T4. This study investigated frequency of abnormal liver function tests in the patients with hyperthyroidism that referred to Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah from 1[st] October 2009 to 30[th] April 2012. Patients who had complication disorders such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, liver disease and using any of drugs effecting liver and thyroid function tests and patients with positive hepatic viral markers were excluded from the study. After excluding patients with complication disorders, fifty patients were remained. Fifty volunteers without history of significant diseases were chosen as matched control group. Mean ALT [Alanine amino transferase] of cases were 52.1+/-6.97 and of controls were 25.6+/-3.9. Also, Mean ALP [Alkaline phosphatase] of cases was 259.94+/-25.83 and of controls were 185.10+/-33.75. There is significant difference between ALT, ALP in case group in compare the control group [P<0.05and P<0.01 respectively]. Further, there is no significant difference in serum levels of AST [Aspartate amino transferase] and Mean direct bilirubin between case and control group. These findings indicate that ALT and ALP levels are frequently elevated in hyperthyroidism. Hence, they are possibly thyroid dependent enzymes