title: Mitochondrial membrane potential profile and its correlation with increasing sperm motility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate sperm mitochondrial integrity through analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) and to correlate the energy status with variations in sperm motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seminology Laboratory, University of Rome, Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred thirteen semen samples from the same number of patients, divided into two groups on the basis of their motility: group A, 185 samples with linear motility and group B, 28 samples with nonlinear motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of sperm motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm mitochondrial integrity evaluated with a fluorimetric method using the cationic lipophilic stain JC-1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean FL2 (percentage of sperm with high and low ∆ψ) for group A was 46.19±23.25 and for group B, it was 48.32±24.43. There was no significant difference between the groups. There was a positive correlation between both FL2 and linear motility and FL2 and sperm vitality in group A; both correlations were statistically significant. In group B, there was a positive correlation between FL2 and nonlinear motility and FL2 and sperm vitality; again, both correlations were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data reveal a positive correlation between total motility and Δψ, suggesting that sperm motility may be dependent on the functional integrity of the mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Seminology-Semen Bank, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paoli
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francavilla
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gandini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology