Therapeutic potential of testosterone on sperm parameters and chromatin status in fresh and thawed normo and asthenozoospermic samples

Abstract

Background

Hormonal changes alter the physiological level of ROS and cause oxidative stress in the cell. As estimated, hormonal deficiencies, environmental and ideological factors make up about 25% of male infertility. Pathogenic reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a chief cause of unexplained infertility. Limited studies exist on the effects of testosterone on human sperm culture. Therefore, in the current study, the effect of different doses of testosterone on sperm parameters and chromatin quality was investigated.

Materials and methods

Semen samples from 15 normospermic and 15 asthenospermic patients were prepared by swim up method, and then were divided into four groups by exposing to different concentrations of testosterone (1, 10, and 100 nM) for 45 min. Samples without any intervention were considered as control group. All samples were washed twice. Sperm parameters and chromatin protamination were assessed in each group and the remains were frozen. After two weeks, all tests were repeated for sperm thawed. Also, the MSOM technique was used to determine the sperm morphology of class 1.

Results

Although sperm parameters were not show any significant differences in normospermic and asthenospermic samples exposed to different concentrations of testosterone before and after freezing, chromatin protamination was significantly decreased in the normospermic samples exposed to 10 nM of testosterone before freezing (p < 0.006), as well as 1 and 10 nM of testosterone after freezing compared to control samples (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0009, respectively). Similarly, chromatin protamination in the asthenospermic samples was significantly decreased at concentration of 1 nM of testosterone before and after freezing (p = 0.0014 and p = 0.0004, respectively), and at concentration of 10 nM of testosterone before and after freezing (p = 0.0009, p = 0.0007) compared to control samples.

Conclusion

Using a low dose of testosterone in the sperm culture medium, has positive effects on chromatin quality.