Probiotic administration improves sperm quality in asthenozoospermic human donors.
The objective of this study is to analyse the effect of the ingestion of two selected antioxidant probiotics strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT8361 and Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347) on sperm quality parameters in asthenozoospermic males after three and six weeks of administration. Nine asthenozoospermic men without any medical treatment under similar diet conditions participated in the study. The quality of individual sperm samples was evaluated before (previous to ingestion), during (after 3 and 6 weeks of ingestion) and after probiotic administration (3 and 6 weeks after finishing the treatment). Sperm motility was evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis system, DNA fragmentation by sperm chromatin structure assay, cell viability by flow cytometry and measurement of intracellular H2O2(reactive oxygen species; ROS) by flow cytometry using dichloro-dihydrofluorescein diacetate. Sperm motility was drastically improved after the treatment (approximately 6 fold change), DNA fragmentation was statistically reduced after probiotic administration from (approximately 1.2 fold change) and intracellular H2O2level was decreased (approximately 3.5 fold change). Cell viability was not affected by the treatment. The significant improvement in sperm motility and the decrease in DNA fragmentation reported in this study provide preliminary evidence that probiotics could be administrated to improve motility and decrease DNA fragmentation and ROS levels in asthenozoospermic human males.
1 Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Biology Area, University of León, 24071 León, Spain.|2 INDEGSAL, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
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Valcarce
3 Department of Food Biotechnology, Biópolis S.L., Parc Científic Universitat de València, Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
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Genovés
1 Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Biology Area, University of León, 24071 León, Spain.|2 INDEGSAL, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
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Riesco
3 Department of Food Biotechnology, Biópolis S.L., Parc Científic Universitat de València, Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
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Martorell
1 Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Biology Area, University of León, 24071 León, Spain.|2 INDEGSAL, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
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Herráez
3 Department of Food Biotechnology, Biópolis S.L., Parc Científic Universitat de València, Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
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Ramón
1 Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Biology Area, University of León, 24071 León, Spain.|2 INDEGSAL, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 León, Spain.
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Robles
D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000628:therapy*; D000069978:Bifidobacterium longum; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002843:Chromatin / Q000502:physiology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D008297:Male; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*
D002843:Chromatin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
Bifidobacterium longum; DNA fragmentation; Lactobacillus rhamnosus; ROS; sperm motility