Background: Fertilization is a multistep process requiring spermatozoa with unique cellular structures and numerous germ cell-specific molecules that function in the various steps. In the highly coordinated process of male germ cell development, RNA splicing and polyadenylation help regulate gene expression to ensure formation of functional spermatozoa. Male germ cells express tauCstF-64 (Cstf2...

STUDY QUESTION Does semen quality improve during early adulthood? SUMMARY ANSWER Semen variables change little during the third decade of life, however some improvement in sperm morphology and motility may occur. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY A suspicion of deteriorating semen quality has been raised in several studies. The longitudinal development of semen quality in early adulthood is insufficien...

As mobile phone usage is growing rapidly, there is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the literature to inform scientific debates about the adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on sperm quality traits. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of the eligible published research studies on human males of reproductive age. Eleven studies were eligible for this analysis. Based on the meta-a...

1. A wide variety of procedures was used to test the motility of mammalian sperm after plunging them into liquid nitrogen at -195 degrees C. and later rapidly warming them to 35 degrees C. by plunging them into a suitable balanced and isotonic medium. 2. Using seminal fluid sperm from the same human donor, maximal numbers of motile sperm survived vitrification when the samples were (a) very fre...

Thirty-five Wistar rats weighing 200 - 250 mg were categorized into five treatment groups- the control, saline, cisplatin, pre-cisplatin and post-cisplatin groups, each comprising of seven per group, to assess effects ethanolic leaf extract Newbouldia laevis on cisplatin-induced testicular damage in rats. The control group received feed mash water ad libitum, saline equal volumes physiological ...

Five Chios and five Friesian rams were used to study the effect of season on semen production. Semen samples were collected with an artificial vagina. In spite of the large variation of most of the semen characteristics among rams of the two breeds, seasonal variation in semen quantity (volume, concentration and total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate) and quality (percentage of motile sperma...

BACKGROUND Sperm vitrification is a technique of ice and cryoprotectant free cryopreservation by direct plunging of sperm suspension into liquid nitrogen (LN2). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of cryoprotectant free-vitrification on human sperm fine structure by MSOME technology and the fertility potential by zona binding assay (ZBA). METHODS 20 normo-ejaculates were pr...

BACKGROUND Semen quality is associated with fertility status, but there is little quantitative information on risk factors that affect semen quality, especially in non-clinical populations. Advancing male age has been associated with a decline in semen quality, with the largest effect being on sperm motility. However, there is little quantitative data on the specific components of sperm motion ...

The mechanisms involved in the regulation of mammalian sperm motility are not well understood. Calcium ions (Ca(2+)) have been suggested to play a key role in the maintenance of motility; nevertheless, how Ca(2+) modulates this process has not yet been completely characterized. Ca(2+) can bind to calmodulin and this complex regulates the activity of multiple enzymes, including Ca(2+)/calmodulin...

Objective: To compare two suites of culture media (one with HSA and one protein-free (PF) supplemented with methylcellulose) for washing human sperm in IVF. Methods: Semen samples (n = 41) underwent parallel density gradient preparation using PF or HSA-supplemented culture medium and subsequent yield, survival, morphology and motility were compared. Results: The PF medium resulted in a signific...