Effect of ultraviolet C irradiation on human sperm motility and lipid peroxidation.
OBJECTIVE
Ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation of aqueous solutions is known to be a good source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study is to examine the effect of increasing doses of UVC irradiation, in the presence and absence of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), on human sperm motility and lipid peroxidation of its membranes.


METHODS
Human sperm samples were irradiated with UVC light (254 nm) for different periods of time. A computer-assisted semen analysis of sperm motility was carried out after UV irradiation. The percentage of motile sperm (%MOT), progressive motility, straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL) and the percentage of linearity (%LIN) were evaluated. The level of lipid peroxidation of sperm membranes was estimated by measurement of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS).


RESULTS
UVC irradiation of human spermatozoa produced a diminution of the sperm motility (%MOT, progressive motility, VSL, VCL, %LIN), viability and, concomitantly, an increase of the level of lipid peroxidation of the sperm membranes. The observed effects of the UVC irradiation were prevented by addition of the antioxidant BHT, indicating that the effects of UVC on the tested sperm parameters are mediated by an important rise in lipid peroxidation of the sperm membrane.


CONCLUSIONS
Lipid peroxidation of the human sperm plasma membrane leads to a decrease in the sperm motility (%MOT, progressive motility, VSL, VCL, %LIN) and viability. The protective effect of BHT on the UVC-irradiated sperm cells indicates the effects of ROS on sperm function.
Torres
Elen R S
ER
Universidad Simón Bolívar (USB), Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Caracas, Venezuela.
Abad
Cilia
C
Piñero
Sandy
S
Proverbio
Teresa
T
Marín
Reinaldo
R
Proverbio
Fulgencio
F
Camejo
María I
MI
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene