Total Sperm Count (total + sperm_count)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Long-term effect of varicocele repair on intratesticular arterial resistance index

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 3 2008
Ali Balci MD
Abstract Purpose To investigate the long-term effect of varicocele repair on ipsilateral intratesticular arterial resistance index (RI) using color Doppler sonography (CDS). Methods A total of 26 infertile patients with left varicocele who underwent a testicular artery and lymphatic-sparing subinguinal varicocelectomy were examined with CDS for intratesticular flow parameters before and at least 6 months after surgery. We also evaluated preoperative and postoperative semen parameters. Results The mean values of RI, end-diastolic velocity and pulsatility index decreased significantly after surgery, whereas no significant change was observed in peak systolic velocity. Repair of the varicocele resulted in a statistically significant increase in the total sperm count, motility, morphology, and total motile sperm count. However, no significant correlation was found between sperm parameters and RI values (p > 0.05). Conclusions Our data show that a significant improvement occurs in testicular blood supply and sperm parameters after surgical varicocele repair, without significant correlation between these 2 changes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2008 [source]


Antibiotic susceptibility of urogenital microbial profile of infertile men in South-eastern Nigeria

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 4 2010
C. J. Uneke
Summary Male factors are known to contribute significantly to the infertility problem. The urogenital bacteria profile and semen quality were investigated among 160 men attending infertility clinics in South-eastern Nigeria. Both semen and urine samples were obtained from each subject and analysed according to standard techniques. A total of 16 (10%) had bacterial infection in their semen samples and individuals of older age groups were significantly affected (,2 = 23.18, P < 0.05). Urinary tract infection (UTI) was observed in 30.6% of subjects, with the highest rate occurring among men aged 36,40 years, but the difference was not significant (,2 = 7.62, P > 0.05). A total of 33.8% of the men had semen volume less than 2 ml per ejaculate, 33.8% also recorded total sperm count of <40 × 106 ml,1, while 36.3% recorded sperm motility <50%. Fifty-three individuals (33.1%) had suboptimal sperm morphology (<60%), with the men aged 46,50 years old significantly affected (,2 = 13.03, P < 0.05). All the individuals with bacterial infection in semen also had UTI and suboptimal semen parameters. The commonest bacterial isolates were Proteus species, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which were resistant to most of the antibiotics assessed. [source]


Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2010
T. K. Biswas
Summary The safety and spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit (PS) were evaluated in oligospermic patients. Initially, 60 infertile male patients were assessed and those having total sperm counts below 20 million ml,1 semen were considered oligospermic and enrolled in the study (n = 35). PS capsule (100 mg) was administered twice daily after major meals for 90 days. Total semenogram and serum testosterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were estimated before and at the end of the treatment. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker for oxidative stress, content of semen and biochemical parameters for safety were also evaluated. Twenty-eight patients who completed the treatment showed significant (P < 0.001) improvement in spermia (+37.6%), total sperm count (+61.4%), motility (12.4,17.4% after different time intervals), normal sperm count (+18.9%) with concomitant decrease in pus and epithelial cell count compared with baseline value. Significant decrease of semen MDA content (,18.7%) was observed. Moreover, serum testosterone (+23.5%; P < 0.001) and FSH (+9.4%; P < 0.05) levels significantly increased. HPLC chromatogram revealed inclusion of PS constituents in semen. Unaltered hepatic and renal profiles of patients indicated that PS was safe at the given dose. The present findings provide further evidence of the spermatogenic nature of Shilajit, as attributed in Ayurvedic medicine, particularly when administered as PS. [source]


Seminal plasma albumin: origin and relation to the male reproductive parameters

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 2 2007
S. Elzanaty
Summary We wanted to investigate the origin of seminal plasma albumin and its relation to the male reproductive parameters. Semen samples from 916 men, under infertility assessment, were analysed according to guidelines of the World Health Organization. Seminal plasma constituents, i.e. albumin, markers of the epididymal (neutral , -glucosidase, NAG), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen, PSA, and zinc) and seminal vesicle function (fructose), as well as levels of reproductive hormones in plasma were measured. The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was applied on 267 of the 916 samples. A negative correlation was seen for seminal albumin and plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (r = ,0.1, P = 0.02) and a positive correlation for seminal albumin and serum inhibin B (r = 0.2, P = 0.004). Albumin exhibited positive correlations with the epididymal marker, NAG (r = 0.5, P < 0.001) and with the prostatic markers, PSA and zinc (r = 0.1, P = 0.001; r = 0.2, P < 0.001 respectively) as well as with age (r = 0.2, P < 0.001). A negative significant association was seen for seminal albumin and semen volume (, = ,0.60; 95% CI ,0.80 to ,0.30). The opposite trend was found regarding sperm concentration (, = 0.34; 95% CI 0.30,0.40), total sperm count (, = 0.30; 95% CI 0.20,0.40), and percentage morphologically normal spermatozoa (, = 0.70; 95% CI 0.10,1.0). No association was found between albumin and sperm motility, SCSA parameters, or fructose, the marker of seminal vesicles. Our results suggest testicular, epididymal and prostatic origin of seminal plasma albumin, in addition to the contribution from blood. This is the first study to demonstrate an association between seminal plasma albumin and sperm morphology. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of seminal albumin in sperm morphology. [source]


Oligozoospermia: recent prognosis and the outcome of 73 pregnancies in oligozoospermic couples

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 3 2006
J. A. Van Zyl
Summary The minimum value for each of the five main semen parameters, below which conception rarely occurred or did not occur at all, was calculated in a group of 1884 couples complaining of primary and secondary infertility: 304 conceptions including first as well as consecutive conceptions, occurred. The parameters evaluated were (minimum value calculated in this study between brackets) volume (1.0 ml), sperm count ml,1 (2.0 million), total sperm count (4.0 million), motility (10%), forward progression (2.0 MacLeod units: scale 1,4) and normal sperm morphology (3%). The pregnancy rate in the group of 308 oligozoospermic men and the minimum value of semen parameters were the cornerstones in determining the prognosis for oligozoospermic patients. A sperm count of >2.0 million ml,1 was considered relatively adequate for eventual conception judged by the 68 of 308 (22.1%) pregnancies that occurred among oligozoospermic men in this study, provided that the other five semen parameters showed values above the minimum value. In cases where the average sperm count was <2 million ml,1, the chances for conception became rare, viz five of 308 (1.6%). The total number of pregnancies in the group classified as oligozoospermic was 73 (23.7%). With these pregnancies there was no increase in the rate of foetal wastage and congenital abnormalities. Abortion occurred in 15.09% and ectopic pregnancy in 0.9% among first and consecutive pregnancies. One infant among the 56% boys and 44% girls was born with congenital abnormalities. Most of these infants had a normal birth mass of >2500 g. [source]


Influence of sexual stimulation on sperm parameters in semen samples collected via masturbation from normozoospermic men or cryptozoospermic men participating in an assisted reproduction programme

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 3 2000
Y. Yamamoto
Summary. To evaluate the influence of sexual stimulation via sexually stimulating videotaped visual images (VIM) on sperm function, two semen samples were collected from each of 19 normozoospermic men via masturbation with VIM. Two additional samples were collected from each man via masturbation without VIM. The volume of seminal plasma, total sperm count, sperm motility, percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, outcome of hypo-osmotic swelling test and zona-free hamster oocyte sperm penetration assay, and markers of the secretory function of prostate were significantly larger in semen samples collected via masturbation with VIM than masturbation without VIM. The improved sperm parameters in the samples collected via masturbation with VIM may reflect an enhanced prostatic secretory function and increased loading of the vas deferens at that time. In a similar protocol, two semen samples were collected via masturbation with VIM from each of 22 non-obstructed azoospermic men. Semen samples from these men had been occasionally positive in the past for a very small number of spermatozoa (cryptozoospermic men). Two additional samples were collected from each cryptozoospermic man via masturbation without VIM. The volume of seminal plasma, total sperm count, sperm motility, and a marker of the secretory function of prostate were significantly larger in semen samples collected via masturbation with VIM. Fourteen out of the 22 men were negative for spermatozoa in both samples collected via masturbation without VIM. These men demonstrated spermatozoa in both samples collected via masturbation with VIM. Six men with immotile spermatozoa in both samples collected via masturbation without VIM exposed motile spermatozoa in both samples collected via masturbation with VIM. High sexual stimulation during masturbation with VIM results in recovery of spermatozoa of greater fertilizing potential both in normozoospermic and cryptozoospermic men. The appearance of spermatozoa after masturbation with VIM in the vast majority of cryptozoospermic men is of clinical significance in programmes applying intracytoplasmic sperm injections for the management of severe male infertility and obviates the need for testicular biopsy. [source]


Spermatophore cryopreservation and artificial insemination of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (Fabricius)

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2006
Amrit N Bart
Abstract To develop an appropriate cryopreservation protocol for spermatophores of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, three cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), methanol (MeOH) and ethylene glycol (EG)) at two concentrations (5% and 10%) were examined. Artificial implantation of spermatophores was also carried out to assess the fertilizing ability of fresh and post-thaw spermatophores. Spermatophores were collected during consecutive regenerations (15-day intervals) and assessed for qualitative and quantitative changes and also for fertilizing ability by implantation. The mean fertilization rate for artificial insemination using post-thaw spermatophore was 79.9±3.7%, lower than the fertilization rates observed for artificial implantation using fresh spermatophore and natural mating. Mean hatch rates for fresh spermatophore, frozen-thawed spermatophore and natural mating were 88.8±0.6%, 87.8±0.4% and 88.3±0.5%, respectively; and there was no difference among the three groups. The mean fertilization rate of spermatophores collected during the first stripping was higher (90.6±0.6) than during the second stripping (85.7±2.6), but the mean hatch rate was not different between the two strippings. The highest mean sperm viability (79.7±0.4%) was obtained from DMSO (5%), with no survival observed in the 10% MeOH treatment. Spermatophore weight, total sperm count and percentage of abnormal sperm were not different between spermatophores collected at the first and second stripping. This is the first study to report high fertilization and hatch rates from cryopreserved spermatophore using artificial implantation of spermatophore before spawning. [source]


Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2010
T. K. Biswas
Summary The safety and spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit (PS) were evaluated in oligospermic patients. Initially, 60 infertile male patients were assessed and those having total sperm counts below 20 million ml,1 semen were considered oligospermic and enrolled in the study (n = 35). PS capsule (100 mg) was administered twice daily after major meals for 90 days. Total semenogram and serum testosterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone were estimated before and at the end of the treatment. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker for oxidative stress, content of semen and biochemical parameters for safety were also evaluated. Twenty-eight patients who completed the treatment showed significant (P < 0.001) improvement in spermia (+37.6%), total sperm count (+61.4%), motility (12.4,17.4% after different time intervals), normal sperm count (+18.9%) with concomitant decrease in pus and epithelial cell count compared with baseline value. Significant decrease of semen MDA content (,18.7%) was observed. Moreover, serum testosterone (+23.5%; P < 0.001) and FSH (+9.4%; P < 0.05) levels significantly increased. HPLC chromatogram revealed inclusion of PS constituents in semen. Unaltered hepatic and renal profiles of patients indicated that PS was safe at the given dose. The present findings provide further evidence of the spermatogenic nature of Shilajit, as attributed in Ayurvedic medicine, particularly when administered as PS. [source]


Men born in the region of Leipzig (Saxony, Germany) between 1960 and 1970 showed a significantly decreased sperm count (examination of 3432 individuals)

ANDROLOGIA, Issue 6 2003
U. Paasch
Summary. The routine spermiogram parameters of 3432 patients born between 1952 and 1971 in the region of Leipzig were determined between January 1975 and March 2000. The patient group aged 24,35 years was characterized by low mobility and relocation living in the main centre of chemical industry with enormous environmental pollution in Eastern Germany up to 1990. Sperm concentrations and total sperm counts were found to be significantly reduced in men born between 1960 and 1970 compared with men born before this period (52.38 ± 1.21 versus 70.79 ± 2.15millions ml,1; 139.51 ± 3.66 versus 176.31 ± 6.04 millions; mean ± SEM; P < 0.01; 2410 versus 1022 patients) independently of the year of semen examination. [source]