Increased reactive oxygen species formation in semen of patients with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate reactive oxygen species production of semen samples and Percoll-washed spermatozoa from men with spinal cord injuries and to determine if there is a relationship between this reactive oxygen species production and sperm motility.


METHODS
Semen samples from healthy volunteers and infertile patients were collected by masturbation.


METHODS
Semen samples from men with a spinal cord injury were obtained by electroejaculation or by masturbation after treatment with physostigmine.


METHODS
Motility was measured using the CellSoft computer-assisted analysis system (Cryo Resources Ltd., Montgomery, NY). Luminol-amplified chemiluminescence was used to measure reactive oxygen species production.


RESULTS
Semen samples and Percoll-washed spermatozoa from men with a spinal cord injury produced reactive oxygen species at much higher frequency and levels than equivalent preparations from infertile men or healthy volunteers. There was an inverse relationship between the percentage of motility and reactive oxygen species production in Percoll-washed spermatozoa from men with a spinal cord injury.


CONCLUSIONS
Semen samples and Percoll-washed spermatozoa from men with spinal cord injury produce high levels of reactive oxygen species that may be related to the low sperm motility and infertility observed in these men.
Urology Research Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
E
E
de Lamirande
B E
BE
Leduc
A
A
Iwasaki
M
M
Hassouna
C
C
Gagnon
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011205:Povidone; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011205:Povidone