ABSTRACT
We conducted a population-based case-control study among healthy sperm donors to study exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) and poor sperm quality. All participants wore a meter to capture daily MF exposure. After controlling for confounders, compared to those with lower MF exposure, those whose 90th percentile MF level > or = 1.6mG had a two-fold increased risk of abnormal sperm motility and morphology (odds ratio (OR): 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0-3.9). Increasing duration of MF exposure above 1.6 mG further increased the risk (p=0.03 for trend test). Importantly, the association and dose-response relationship were strengthened when restricted to those whose measurement day reflected their typical day of the previous 3 months (a likely period of spermatogenesis). Age-adjusted Spearman Rank Order Correlations showed an inverse correlation between MF exposure and all semen parameters. Our study provides some evidence for the first time that MF exposure may have an adverse effect on sperm quality.
Subject(s)
Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Magnetics , Spermatozoa/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Electromagnetic Fields/adverse effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Odds Ratio , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa/abnormalities , Tissue DonorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of L-Carnitine transport and the expression of OCTN2 mRNA in the human epididymis so as to provide a theoretical basis for male contraception. METHODS: We collected specimens from human epididymides and determined the expressions of OCTN2 mRNA in the caput, corpus and cauda of the epididymis by RT-PCR. RESULTS: OCTN2 mRNA was expressed in the caput, corpus and cauda of the epididymis. CONCLUSION: The human epididymis may rely on OCTN2 for transporting L-Carnitine into the epididymal duct to promote sperm maturation. With the accumulation of information on OCTN2 in the human epididymis, OCTN2 will become a new molecular target for researches on male contraception.
Subject(s)
Epididymis/metabolism , Gene Expression Profiling , Organic Cation Transport Proteins/genetics , Contraception/methods , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , Male , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Solute Carrier Family 22 Member 5ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the Y chromosome microdeletions in the family of the infertile male and to study on the vertical transmission of Y chromosome microdeletions from father to son. METHODS: The peripheral blood of infertile patients' family male members was extracted and analyzed with modified multiplex PCR. The infertile family tree was drawn according to the results. RESULTS: Two cases in twelve investigated families had azoospermia factor (AZFc) microdeletion heredity. The others had no heredity. CONCLUSION: AZFc microdeletion of the Y chromosome can be transmitted to the male offspring naturally,and the same deletion can result in different phenotypes in different individuals.
