RESUMO
Background: male senescence may affect testicular function, sperm indices and generation of high levels of oxidants and apoptosis
Objective: this study evaluates the effect of male age on the expression of some apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in seminal fluid of males investigated for infertility in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria
Materials and Methods: in this cross-sectional study, 122 men aged 20-60 yr. who were investigated for infertility and were stratified according to age into four groups. Seminal plasma caspase 3, cytochrome C, and total antioxidant capacity [TAC] were assayed by ELISA technique, while manual semen analysis was performed according to WHO standard
Results: seminal caspase 3 and cytochrome C activity increased while TAC and sperm indices decreased with increasing age. Cytochrome C [r=0.288; p=0.002] and caspase 3 [r=0.250; p=0.05] correlated significantly with age in normospermia while cytochrome C [r=0.314; p=0.02], caspase 3 [r=0.268; p=0.05], TAC [r=-0.342; p=0.01] and morphology percentage [r=-0.414; p=0.002] correlated with age in oligospermic infertile males
Conclusion: the measured apoptotic markers increased with increasing age while TAC and sperm indices decreased with increasing age of subjects evaluated. Although the levels of measured apoptosis and oxidative stress markers correlated with age in normozospermia, the effect on sperm indices was severe among oligospermia compare to normozospermia. Therefore, these markers may be assayed in aged men attending fertility clinics
RESUMO
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder characterized by chronic haemolytic anaemia. Haemoglobin S containing red blood cells may be susceptible to oxidative stress due to imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species and the countering effect of the various antioxidants present in the body. We evaluated some antioxidant enzymes which include glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. We also determined malondialdehyde, C- reactive protein and fibrinogen using commercial kits in 144 adult sickle cell disease patients [68 males and 76 females] in steady state and 80 apparently healthy age/sex matched controls; 40 sickle cell trait [20 males/20 females] and 40 normal haemoglobin [20 males/20 females]. The result showed that serum glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were lower in sickle cell disease patients compared with controls. Malondialdehyde, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen were significantly increased in sickle cell disease patients compared to the controls in both sexes. Malondialdehyde correlated negatively with superoxide dismutase [P< 0.01], glutathione peroxidase [P, 0.05], and catalase [P< 0.05] and positively [P< 0.05] with C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. This study shows that malondialdehyde correlated negatively with antioxidant enzymes and positively with acute phase proteins in sickle cell anaemia patients in steady state