Blood Leukocyte ROS Production Reflects Seminal Fluid Oxidative Stress and Spermatozoa Dysfunction in Idiopathic Infertile Men

Abstract

A large proportion of infertile men do not receive a clear diagnosis, being considered as idiopathic or unexplained cases due to infertility diagnosis based on standard semen parameters. Particularly in unexplained cases, the search for new indicators seems mandatory to provide specific information. In the etiopathogenesis of male infertility oxidative stress displays important roles by negatively affecting sperm quality and function. In this study, performed in a population of 34 idiopathic infertile men and in 52 age-matched controls, redox parameters were assessed in blood, leukocytes, spermatozoa, and seminal fluid and related to semen parameters. The main findings indicate that blood oxidative stress markers reflect seminal oxidative stress. Interestingly, blood leukocyte ROS production was significantly correlated to sperm ROS production and to semen parameters. Overall, these results suggest the potential employ of blood redox markers as a relevant and adjunctive tool for sperm quality evaluation aimed to preconception care.

Keywords: leukocyte ROS production; men infertility; oxidative stress; sperm dysfunction.

Figure 1

Median (IQR) values and patient-level measures of lymphocyte (A), monocyte (B) and granulocyte (C) ROS production, plasma lipid peroxidation (D), plasma total antioxidant capacity (E), sperm ROS production (F), seminal fluid lipid peroxidation (G) and seminal fluid TAC (H) in infertile patients (n = 34) and controls (n = 52). p-values are from Mann–Whitney test for unpaired data.

Figure 2

Linear regression coefficient and graphical plots of (A) sperm ROS production and seminal fluid volume, (B–D) leukocyte ROS production and seminal fluid volume, (E,F), plasma lipid peroxidation and sperm total count (E) and sperm concentration (F).