Sperm ROS Test
Oxidative Stress is the basic reason for the sperm DNA damage. Sperm produce small amounts of free oxygen radicals (ROS) that are required for their normal function. There are antioxidants in the sperm environment that keep the levels low by removing the ROS.
Spermatozoa are the major source of ROS generation in oligozoospermic patients (Aitken et al 1992). It has been suggested that in infertile patients, there is increased G6PD-mediated NADPH generation, which in turn fuels the ROS generation by the NADPH oxidase activity of spermatozoa (Aitken et al, 1997, Gil-Guzman et al, 2001).
However, high levels of free oxygen radicals (ROS) causing oxidative stress, which leads to sperm damage and consequently affects fertility. The imperfect semen parameters, adversely affects embryo development and is associated with reduced pregnancy rates. It may also increase the risk of miscarriage. ROS can be simply measured in a fresh semen sample.
Impact of Sperm oxidative stress and infertility
Reference:
Gil-Guzman E, Ollero M, Lopez MC, et al, (2001). Hum Reprod 16:1922–30
Aitken RJ, Buckingham D, West K, et al, (1992). J Reprod Fertil 94:451–62
Aitken RJ, Fisher HM, Fulton N, et al, (1997). Mol Reprod Dev 47: 468–82
Spermatozoa are the major source of ROS generation in oligozoospermic patients (Aitken et al 1992). It has been suggested that in infertile patients, there is increased G6PD-mediated NADPH generation, which in turn fuels the ROS generation by the NADPH oxidase activity of spermatozoa (Aitken et al, 1997, Gil-Guzman et al, 2001).
However, high levels of free oxygen radicals (ROS) causing oxidative stress, which leads to sperm damage and consequently affects fertility. The imperfect semen parameters, adversely affects embryo development and is associated with reduced pregnancy rates. It may also increase the risk of miscarriage. ROS can be simply measured in a fresh semen sample.
Impact of Sperm oxidative stress and infertility
- 25 – 40% of infertile men have high levels of ROS and a reduced antioxidant capacity compared with fertile men
- ROS can cause poor sperm motility and vitality, poor sperm shape and reduced sperm count
- ROS levels can be high in men with both normal and abnormal semen parameters
- High ROS levels cause sperm DNA fragmentation
- High ROS levels are correlated with an increased time to natural pregnancy
- High ROS levels impair fertilisation, affect blastocyst development and reduce pregnancy rates after IVF.
Reference:
Gil-Guzman E, Ollero M, Lopez MC, et al, (2001). Hum Reprod 16:1922–30
Aitken RJ, Buckingham D, West K, et al, (1992). J Reprod Fertil 94:451–62
Aitken RJ, Fisher HM, Fulton N, et al, (1997). Mol Reprod Dev 47: 468–82