Glutathione content in sperm cells of infertile men

  • R. V. Fafula Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
  • O. K. Onufrovych Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
  • U. P. Iefremova Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
  • O. V. Melnyk Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
  • I. A. Nakonechnyi Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
  • D. Z. Vorobets Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
  • Z. D. Vorobets Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15421/021725
Keywords: glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, spermatozoa, pathospermia, male infertility

Abstract

Hyperproduction of reactive oxygen species can damage sperm cells and is considered to be one of the mechanisms of male infertility. Cell protection from the damaging effects of free radicals and lipid peroxidation products is generally determined by the degree of antioxidant protection. Glutathione is non-enzymatic antioxidant which plays an important protective role against oxidative damages and lipid peroxidation. The aim of the present work is to determine the content of reduced and oxidized glutathione in sperm cells of infertile men. Semen samples from 20 fertile men (normozoospermics) and 72 infertile patients (12 oligozoospermics, 17 asthenozoospermics, 10 oligoasthenozoosper­mics and 33 leucocytospermic) were used. The total, oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione levels were measured spectrophotometrically. The levels of total glutathione were significantly lower in the spermatozoa of patients with oligozoo-, asthenozoo- and oligoasthenozoospermia than in the control. Infertile groups showed significantly decreased values of reduced glutathione in sperm cells vs. fertile men, indicating an alteration of oxidative status. The oxidized glutathione levels in sperm cells of infertile men did not differ from those of normozoospermic men with proven fertility. The GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly decreased in the oligo-, astheno- and oligoasthenozoospermic groups compared to the normozoospermic group. In patients with leucocytospermia the GSH/GSSG ratio was lower but these changes were not significant. In addition, glutathione peroxidase activity in sperm cells was decreased in patients with oligozoo-, astenozoo-, oligoastenozoospermia and with leucocytospermia. The most significant changes in glutathione peroxidase activity were observed in infertile men with leucocytospermia. Decreased GSH/GSSG ratio indicates a decline in redox-potential of the glutathione system in sperm cells of men with decreased fertilizing potential. Redistribution between oxidized and reduced forms of glutathione can be caused by depletion of intracellular stores of glutathione and intensification of lipid peroxidation processes. This leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species, further depletion of antioxidant pools and disturbances of structure and function of spermatozoa. Our results indicate that the evaluation of reduced glutathione level and GSH/GSSG ratio in sperm cells of infertile men can be helpful in fertility assessment. 

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Published
2017-04-22
How to Cite
Fafula, R. V., Onufrovych, O. K., Iefremova, U. P., Melnyk, O. V., Nakonechnyi, I. A., Vorobets, D. Z., & Vorobets, Z. D. (2017). Glutathione content in sperm cells of infertile men. Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems, 8(2), 157-161. https://doi.org/10.15421/021725
Issue
Vol 8 No 2 (2017): Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems
Section
Статті

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