Thiol status in human sperm.
The passage of spermatozoa along the epididymis is characterized by a gradual stabilization of intracellular organelles mainly through the oxidation of thiol groups. In this study, we examined the relationship between the thiol-disulfide status of human spermatozoa (using a specific fluorescent probe, monobromobimane) and routine semen analysis parameters. Fluorescence intensity was measured by spectrofluorimeter and its frequency distribution within samples, using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. The mean proportion of reactive thiols SH/(SS + SH) in 29 semen samples was 29.8% +/- 2.5%. When comparing thiol labeling patterns, oligozoospermic samples differed from normozoospermic ones (P less than 0.05). However, within the normozoospermic group, no correlation was found between thiol-labeling patterns and routine sperm parameters or fertilizing capacity in vitro. No difference in thiol labeling patterns was found between "swim-up" and "whole semen" preparations.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beilinson Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
O
O
Rufas
B
B
Fisch
J
J
Seligman
Y
Y
Tadir
J
J
Ovadia
R
R
Shalgi
D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013079:Sperm Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*
D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C028381:monobromobimane