Oxidative stress and its correlation with sperm parameters in different semen quality groups
Maroua Ben Rhouma, Hatem Bahri, M. Benkhalifa, Mohsen Sakly, Khémaïs Ben Rhouma, Moncef Benkhalifa, Olfa Tebourbi
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated oxidative stress and its impact on sperm quality in men with infertility, focusing on lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes-catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-in seminal fluid. METHODS: This study was conducted from January 2021 to January 2023 and involved 163 male patients who had been experiencing infertility for over a year. The participants were categorized according to semen quality. Semen samples were analyzed for sperm concentration, motility, and morphology following the World Health Organization guidelines. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, as well as the activity of CAT, SOD, and GPx. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Semen quality and oxidative stress were evaluated in cases of male infertility, with patients categorized into five groups: normozoospermia, oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, and oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia. The pathological groups exhibited significant reductions in sperm count, motility, and morphology. Additionally, lipid peroxidation, as shown by increased MDA levels, was significantly elevated in all pathological groups. The activities of CAT, SOD, and GPx were significantly diminished in these groups, with the most substantial declines noted in the oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia group. CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress, indicated by elevated MDA levels, was correlated with poor sperm quality. The decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes in pathological semen implies that a weakened antioxidant defense contributes to sperm dysfunction. These findings suggest that antioxidant interventions could improve sperm quality in men experiencing infertility, though additional research is required.