HUMAN SPERM HYPERACTIVATION IN WHOLE SEMEN AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH LOW SUPEROXIDE SCAVENGING CAPACITY IN SEMINAL PLASMA

Objectives: To characterize the very vigorous type of motility observe d in the semen of some infertile men and to compare the superoxide ani on scavenging capacity of the seminal plasma from these men and that f rom normal men. Subjects: Patients consulting for infertility related to sperm motility problems and men presenting as sperm donors. Methods : Motility patterns and measurements of sperm motility parameters were evaluated by computer-assisted digital image analysis system. The sup eroxide anion scavenging capacity of seminal plasma was measured by in hibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction due to the superoxide anio n generated by the combination xanthine plus xanthine oxidase. Results : Spermatozoa from 9 of 68 semen samples with normal sperm concentrati on, morphology, and percentage of motility showed the typical motility patterns observed during hyperactivation (HA) and a significant level of HA (16% +/- 3%) as compared with those in semen (2.3% +/- 0.3%) fr om fertile volunteers. The superoxide anion scavenging capacity of the seminal plasma from men with sperm HA was 37% lower than that of cont rol seminal plasma. Conclusions: Sperm HA can occur in whole semen and is associated with a low superoxide anion scavenging capacity in semi nal plasma. It could be one of the causes for idiopathic infertility.