Role of nitric oxide in male infertility.

ABSTRACT

It has been proposed that oxidative stress plays an important role in male infertility. Many environmental, physiological and genetic factors have been implicated in poor sperm function and infertility. Although there are some definite causes for male infertility still the term “Idiopathic Infertility” remains. Various studies are going on effect of oxidative stress on fertility potential of male which can be one of the causes of idiopathic infertility. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive oxidizing agent belonging to class of free radicals. Excessive generation of ROS in semen by leukocytes as well as by abnormal spermatozoa could be a cause of infertility because it leads to injury to spermatozoa.Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the reactive oxygen species that has been implicated in variety of physiologic cell signaling mechanisms in many tissues and is recognized as a molecule that importantly regulates the biology and physiology of reproductive function.The clinical significance of seminal oxidative stress is suggested by several independent studies indicating a link between peroxidative damage to human spermatozoa and the incidence of male infertility.