title: Superoxide dismutase content in sperm correlates with motility recovery after thawing of cryopreserved human spermatozoa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between sperm superoxide dismutase (SOD) content and motility recovery after thawing of cryopreserved human sperm, based on the rationale that this antioxidant enzyme provides protection against reactive oxygen species-induced damage during cryopreservation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private infertility institute and university-based research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two consenting normozoospermic patients consulting for infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SOD content was measured in sperm from unfractionated samples and in sperm recovered from the pellet fraction obtained after discontinuous density gradient centrifugation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm motility was evaluated post-thaw in the two sets of samples and motility recovery was plotted against the sperm SOD content to determine their correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant positive correlation between motility recovery after thawing and SOD content in sperm from the 90% gradient pellet containing highly purified mature sperm. There was also a significant negative correlation between motility after thawing and SOD content in the unfractionated sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positive correlation between post-thaw motility recovery and SOD content in mature spermatozoa provides a good predictor of post-thaw motility recovery after cryopreservation.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariano G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Buffone
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Calamera
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brugo-Olmedo
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Vincentiis
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Calamera
authors.forename: Bayard T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Storey
authors.forename: Gustavo F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Doncel
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007211:Indoles; D010879:Piperazines; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C406691:thaxtomine A; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase