Glutathione and male fertility

Considerable efforts are now focused on the identification of ultrastructural and/or molecular defects in the seminal fluid from infertile men. The tripeptide glutathione is the most abundant non-thiol protein in mammalian cells. It is a part of the protein identified as the major constituent that embeds the helix of mitochondria in the midpiece of spermatozoa. The objective of this work is to clarify the role played by seminal plasma glutathione on male fertility. A randomly selected group of 25 nonazoospermic infertile patients were included in this study, who attended the Institute of Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment at Al-Kadhimiya City/ Baghdad, with a history of infertility of at least 1 year duration between March and June 2009. Controls consisted of samples obtained from healthy donors of proven fertility [n = 10]. The seminal plasma glutathione concentration and percentage of spermatozoa with low mitochondrial membrane potential [MMP] were studied in the ejaculate from infertile patients against control donors. Results were compared with the standard semen characteristics [concentration, motility and morphology]. Infertile patients had significantly lower amount of GSH in the seminal plasma [P = 0,00001], lower progressive motility [grades a and b] [P = 0,002] and poorer sperm morphology [P = 0.00001]; while they had higher percentage of spermatozoa with low MMP [P = 0,00001] as compared to controls. Most of infertile patients were non oligozoospermic therefore; no significant concentration difference was found compared to controls. Seminal glutathione concentration was significantly inversely correlated with low MMP [r = - 0.665, P = 0.001], yet it was positively related to progressive motility [r = 0.51, P = 0.02] and normal morphology [r = 0.611, P = 0.004]. Comparison between patients with asthenoteratozoospermia [low percentage of progressive motility and normal morphology] [n = 18] against other patients [n = 7] revealed significantly lower seminal GSH concentration [P = 0.02] and higher percentage of low MMP [P = 0.00001]. This further support the relation between GSH and mitochondrial status, motility and normal morphology of spermatozoa. Seminal plasma GSH levels may play an important role in male fertility through protection against oxidative damage and preserving the mitochondrial integrity and function of the spermatozoa as the main energy source

Oxidative stress in chronic renal failure patients treated by peritoneal dialysis

To evaluate the role of oxidative stress [OS] in chronic renal failure [CRF] and the effect of peritoneal dialysis on the OS in uremic patients. Also, to investigate the role of the studied parameters of OS as early markers for the detection of peritonitis in peritoneally dialyzed patients. The study was conducted on 80 chronic renal failure Iraqi patients who were admitted to the dialysis centers at Al-Kadhumiya, Baghdad, Al-Yarmouk and Al-Karama teaching hospitals, Baghdad, Iraq, during the period November 1999 through to July 2000 for peritoneal or hemodialysis therapy. Their ages range between 15-75-years. This was carried out by measuring the plasma values of malondialdehyde [MDA], thiol group, albumin, uric acid and total bilirubin before and after the dialysis session, compared to age and sex matched healthy controls. The significantly higher plasma MDA with lower plasma thiol levels prior to the dialysis session indicated most likely an increased OS in CRF patients, which has significantly decreased after the dialysis session. This OS was found to be significantly correlated with the degree of renal insufficiency measured by serum creatinine levels. In patients who developed peritonitis, post dialysis findings were in favor of an increase rather than a decrease in OS. Such findings were found prior to the clinical or biochemical diagnosis of peritonitis or both in most patients. Finally, in patients on regular hemodialysis therapy, results suggested a minor OS compared to patients admitted for peritoneal dialysis therapy. Patients with CRF are subjected to an increased OS, the degree of which is related to the severity of renal failure. Moreover, plasma levels of the studied markers of OS do point in the direction of a decrease in the OS post dialysis. Such markers can be used for early detection of peritonitis in peritoneally dialyzed patients. Finally, chronic regular dialysis therapy is a more effective replacement therapy