title: Acrosome reaction is impaired in spermatozoa of obese men: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare spontaneous (Sp-AR) and P-induced acrosome reaction (AR) in spermatozoa of obese and lean subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bariatric unit at a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three obese (mean±SD body mass index [BMI], 44.3±5.9 kg/m2) and 25 age-matched lean (BMI, 24.2±3.0 kg/m2) subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spontaneous and P-induced AR in spermatozoa of obese and lean subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference was found between obese and lean cohorts in total T and calculated free T, E2, glycated hemoglobin, and high-density lipoproteins, whereas among the routine semen parameters analyzed, only immotile sperm percentage and ejaculate volume differed significantly. Spermatozoa of obese (n=13) vs. lean men (n=19) showed a higher Sp-AR (17.9%±7.2% vs. 8.3%±4.2%), which resulted in a reduced ability to respond to P evaluated as the AR-after-P-challenge parameter (3.5%±3.2% vs. 17.6%±9.2%). Multivariate analysis adjusted for age revealed a significant correlation between BMI, waist, E2, and glycated hemoglobin with both Sp-AR (age-adjusted r=0.654, r=0.711, r=0.369, and r=0.644, respectively) and AR-after-P-challenge (age-adjusted r=-0.570, r=-0.635, r=-0.507, and r=-0.563, respectively). A significant difference in sperm cholesterol content was reported between obese and lean men (29.8±19.5 vs. 19.1±14.6 ng/μg of proteins).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm AR is impaired in obese men, showing reduced response to P and elevated Sp-AR, associated with altered circulating levels of E2 and sperm cholesterol content.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Jinous
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samavat
authors.affiliation: Seminology Laboratory, Azienda USL3 Pistoia, Pistoia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Selene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Degl'Innocenti
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Erminio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Filimberti
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantini
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Franco
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Danza
authors.affiliation: Agenzia Regionale Sanità Toscana, Florence, Italy; Accademia Medica Filippo Pacini, Pistoia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seghieri
authors.affiliation: Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Careggi Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucchese
authors.affiliation: Sexual Medicine and Andrology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: michaela.luconi@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luconi
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013851:Thinness / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Acrosome reaction; cholesterol; estradiol; obese; semen analysis; sex hormones