Sperm characteristics in a sample of healthy adolescents in São Paulo, Brazil.
The article presents preliminary data from a prospective investigation in a sample of healthy 14-17-year-old students from a technical school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ninety-six Tanner stage 5 and thirty-one Tanner stage 4 adolescents were evaluated: testicular volume was measured using a Prader orchidometer, and semen analysis was performed according to standard procedures. Median testicular volume was 20.0 ml among Tanner 5 students and 15.0 ml in Tanner 4 students in both the right and left testes. No significant differences were found in sperm volume or motility. Median concentration was 66.0 million/ml for Tanner 5 and 47.0 million/ml for Tanner 4 subjects. Morphological patterns showed abnormal forms in 81.9% of Tanner 5 and 93.6% of Tanner 4 adolescents. Oligospermia (sperm concentration < 5 million/ml) was observed in 7.3% of Tanner stage 5 and 12.9% of Tanner stage 4 individuals. Azoospermia was observed in 3 students (1.8%), with counts less than 1.0 in 8 students (4.8%). The authors discuss the observed results, analyzing the potential implications arising from biological development and potential environmental exposures.
Mori
Marcos Mitsuyoshi
MM
Departamento de Cirurgia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 04025-010, Brasil. mmmsp@attglobal.net
Cedenho
Agnaldo Pereira
AP
Koifman
Sergio
S
Srougi
Miguel
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology
D004785:Environmental Pollutants