To establish the procedure of ROS measurement in washed and neat semen of infertile male and to study the relationship between ROS levels with semen parameters (sperm motility and concentration)

Abstract

Objective: To establish the procedure of ROS measurement in washed and neat semen of infertile male and to study the relationship between ROS levels with semen parameters (sperm motility and concentration).

Method: Measurement and evaluation of ROS levels in semen and washed semen of 112 infertile patients treated by ICSI method (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) in IVFAS, An Sinh Hospital-HCMC by luminoldependent chemiluminescence. 70 samples of patients have normal semen parameters- NS (concentration ≥ 15x106 sperm/ml, motility≥ 40%) while the rest have abnormal semen analysis-AS.

Result: The ROS production in neat semen was lower than washed semen in both groups NS and AS. The lower level of ROS was observed in NS group [0,08 (0,023, 0,48), P<0,05], whereas infertile men with AS group had the highest ROS level [6,69 (0,15, 24), p<0,05)]. A strong negative correlation between ROS levels and concentration (R=-0,123**, P<0,01), motility (R=-0,166**, P<0,01) was noticed. However, there was a strong positive correlation between log ROS in neat semen and in washed semen (R=0,550**, P<0,01).

Conclusion: It was the first time in Viet Nam, we have succeeded in establishing the procedure of ROS measurement in semen. ROS levels have a strong negative correlation with semen parameters (sperm concentration and motility). Measurement of ROS in neat semen is an easy, simple, inexpensive, good diagnostic and prognostic value in male infertility assessment.