The effect of follicle-stimulating hormone therapy on sperm quality: an ultrastructural mathematical evaluation.
We investigated the effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) administration on the ultrastructure of spermatozoa in order to evaluate the potential of FSH therapy for improving sperm quality. Forty-six patients exhibiting idiopathic oligoasthenoterato-zoospermia who attended the intrauterine insemination (IU), in vitro fertilization (IVF), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) program at our clinic received FSH in daily dosages of 150 IU over a period of 12 weeks. Using transmission electron microscopy, the ultrastructural analysis of spermatozoa was performed prior to the start of FSH therapy, after the treatment had been finished, and 6 weeks posttherapy. Applying a mathematical formula based on submicroscopic characteristics, we calculated the number of morphologically normal spermatozoa. After the FSH treatment, the examined subcellular organelles achieved a higher percentage of integrity. Follicle-stimulating hormone treatment leads to a higher number of morphologically normal spermatozoa. The electron microscopic findings indicate that treatment with pure FSH may be an effective way to improve sperm quality in cases with oligoasthenoterato-zoospermia. Applying the mathematical analysis based on the whole complex of the selected sperm characteristics, we obtained a way to evaluate the success of therapy for the first time.
Strehler
E
E
Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Ulm, Germany.
Sterzik
K
K
De Santo
M
M
Abt
M
M
Wiedemann
R
R
Bellati
U
U
Collodel
G
G
Piomboni
P
P
Baccetti
B
B
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone