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Effect of senescence on some apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in infertile normozospermic and oligospermic men: A cross-sectional study
Emokpae, Mathias Abiodun & Chima, Happy Ngozi
Abstract
Background: Male senescence may affect testicular function, sperm indices and
generation of high levels of oxidants and apoptosis.
Objective: This study evaluates the effect of male age on the expression of some
apoptosis and oxidative stress markers in seminal fluid of males investigated for
infertility in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 122 men aged 20-60 yr who
were investigated for infertility and were stratified according to age into four groups.
Seminal plasma caspase 3, cytochrome C, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were
assayed by ELISA technique, while manual semen analysis was performed
according to WHO standard.
Results: Seminal caspase 3, and cytochrome C activity increased while TAC and
sperm indices decreased with increasing age. Cytochrome C (r=0.288; p=0.002) and
caspase 3 (r=0.250; p=0.05) correlated significantly with age in normospermia while
cytochrome C (r=0.314; p=0.02), caspase 3 (r=0.268; p=0.05), TAC (r=-0.342;
p=0.01) and morphology percentage (r=-0.414; p=0.002) correlated with age in
oligospermic infertile males.
Conclusion: The measured apoptotic markers increased with increasing age while
TAC and sperm indices decreased with increasing age of subjects evaluated.
Although the levels of measured apoptosis and oxidative stress markers correlated
with age in normozospermia, the effect on sperm indices was severe among
oligospermia compare to normozospermia. Therefore, these markers may be assayed
in aged men attending fertility clinics.
Keywords
Apoptosis; Caspase 3; Cytochrome C; Male infertility.
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