title: Sperm characteristics in a sample of healthy adolescents in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirurgia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 04025-010, Brasil. mmmsp@attglobal.net
authors.forename: Marcos Mitsuyoshi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Agnaldo Pereira
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cedenho
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koifman
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srougi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants