Investigation on the Effects of Exogenous H₂O₂ on Sperm Motility, LPO, Catalase and SOD Levels in Seminal Plasma

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have deleterious impact on sperm functional parameters and DNA damage in spermatozoa, both invivo and in-vitro. During sperm preparation for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) additional ROS produces, which lowers the rate of live birth, especially when sperm with DNA damage is used in ART.

Aim: The present study aimed to correlate the concentration of exogenous H2O2 with sperm motility and to see the effect of H2O2 on seminal plasma LPO, catalase and SOD level.

Method and Material: 146 subjects were primarily recruited for the present investigation from the Division of Infertility, Department of Urology, SMS Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Based on sperm motility the semen samples were classified in two groups, (i) semen samples with more than 50% motility graded to normal, and (ii) sperm motility less than 50% graded to asthenozoospermia group.

Results: There was no significant difference in sperm motility and seminal plasma LPO, catalase and SOD levels at 300 μM H2O2 concentration. Sperm motility was significantly (p<0.05) decline within 10 min. of incubation at 600 μM H2O2 concentration. The levels of LPO, catalase and SOD was significantly (p<0.001) increased in 30 min. at 600 μM H2O2 in astenozoospermic group as compared to normal group which was highly significant at 1200 μM H2O2. Exogenous H2O2 was detrimental to motility and resulted in a significant increase in overall ROS.

Conclusion: As demonstrated in the present study that H2O2, one of the most toxic oxygen species, has the ability to alter sperm functions significantly at 600 μM concentration of H2O2. The study confirmed a need to reduce exogenous ROS production during ART. The in-vitro protocol carried out in the present study is simple to execute and appears to be a novel approach.

Author(s):

Asha Sharma

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