title: Tamoxifen is a potent antioxidant modulator for sperm quality in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the new mechanisms of tamoxifen (TAM) in the treatment for patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia-antioxidation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial, 120 cases of idiopathic oligoasthenospermia were enrolled and randomly assigned to the indomethacin group (n = 60) treated with indomethacin (25 mg, bid) and TAM group (n = 60) treated with TAM (10 mg, bid) for 3 months. Before and after treatment, we evaluated semen parameters, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), seminal plasma MDA and TAC, spermatozoa intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), sperm succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and sperm adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content. The independent t test and one-way repeated measures analysis of variance were used to compare the variables between and within two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the indomethacin group, the percentage of progressive motile sperms, total motility, sperm MMP, and ATP content were increased significantly after 3-month treatment (P < 0.05). In the TAM group, total sperm count, sperm concentration, the percentage of progressive motile sperms, total motility, serum and seminal plasma TAC, sperm MMP, and ATP content were significantly improved or increased (P < 0.05), while spermatozoa intracellular ROS was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Compared to the indomethacin group, TAM treatment showed better improvement in total sperm count, sperm concentration, serum TAC, seminal plasma TAC, spermatozoa intracellular ROS, and sperm SDH activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAM treatment can significantly improve sperm quality, which is achieved through alleviating oxidative stress, improving sperm mitochondrial functionality, and subsequently increasing sperm motility.
authors.affiliation: Reproduction Medicine Center, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Yu-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen; D007213:Indomethacin