We investigated the motility and morphology of live sperm from barn swallows Hirundo rustica breeding in radioactively contaminated areas around Chernobyl and control areas in Ukraine in order to test the hypothesis that swimming behaviour and morphology of sperm was impaired by radioactive contamination. We obtained sperm samples from 98% of sampled birds, thus avoiding sampling bias due to th...

The development of male infertility increased rapidly worldwide, which coinciding with the epidemic of obesity. However, the impact of weight abnormalities on sperm quality is still contestable. To assess the correlation between BMI and sperm parameters, we searched relevant articles in PubMed, Embase, Web of science, and Wanfang database published until June 2015 without language restriction. ...

The link between varicocele and infertility was first reported by Celsius in the first century AD, but it was not widely acknowledged until Tulloch and colleagues reported the improvement of sperm parameters in 26 of 30 patients undergoing varicocelectomy. The World Health Organization also reported that varicocele was present in 25% of patients with abnormal sperm parameters and 12% of patient...

Identification of molecular markers which can predict the outcome of sperm retrieval non-invasively in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) are valuable in clinical andrology. Jumonji domain-containing 1a (JMJD1A) is a significant epigenetic regulator during spermatogenesis, which plays an important role in the differentiation of post-meiotic germ cells into mature spermatozoa. We th...

There is evidence to show that varicocele repair can improve conventional sperm parameters but the effects on sperm chromatin integrity have not been fully elucidated. We sought to examine the effects of varicocelectomy on sperm maturation, nuclear chromatin integrity and nuclear sulfhydryl groups. We conducted a prospective study of consecutive infertile men (n=29) that underwent a microsurgic...

BACKGROUND Detection of apoptosis in sperm samples may help evaluate sperm quality. Recently, it has been suggested that in some ejaculated sperm populations, apoptosis is caspase dependent. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of activated caspases and examine possible correlations with apoptosis and sperm parameters in semen samples prepared for IVF. METHODS To detect activ...

Traditionally, the diagnosis of male infertility has relied upon microscopic assessment and biochemical assays to determine human semen quality. The conventional parameters given most importance have been the concentration, motility, and morphology of sperm in the ejaculate. Most laboratories also include 'sperm suitability' tests where the subpopulations of sperm more likely to finish the mara...

It is often questioned whether sperm parameters, including whether retrieved or ejaculated, have any effect on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) results. Do severe spermatogenic defects affect embryo quality or pregnancy rate? Further, does it matter in azoospermic patients whether the sperm source is testicular or epididymal? Our studies show there is no significant difference in results...

BACKGROUND The value of varicocele repair and the latter's impact on semen parameters are still subject to debate. METHODS We analyse changes over time in initially abnormal sperm parameters and serum concentrations of testosterone, FSH and inhibin B after embolization treatment of males with high-grade varicocele. From 2007 to 2012, we recruited 47 male infertile patients with clinically vis...

The effects of sauna exposure on sperm movement characteristics and other semen parameters were evaluated using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). A significant (p < 0.01) decrease in average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL) and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) was found after exposure to sauna for 2 weeks. The altered parameters returned to their original value...