Heat shock protein 70 biomarkers in sperm and its association on oligoasthenozoospermia, and asthenozoospermia in male infertility

Background: The heat shock protein (Hsp70) is a protein that helps cells survive in harsh conditions and is involved in a variety of cellular biological processes. Objectives: To study the relationship between the levels of (Hsp70) in semen plasma of infertile (oligoasthenozoospermia (OA), asthenozoospermia (AZ) and fertile men and the effect of an increase and decrease on fertility. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 119 semen samples, 31 men with (AZ), 28 men with (OA), whereas another 60 healthy controls were diagnosed, semen samples were collected from Iraqi patients who attended infertility clinics for infertility diagnosis and assisted reproductive technologies in Karbala for the period between November 2021 and May 2022. Results: The mean (Hsp70) in the patient group were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). In comparison to (AZ) groups with (OA) found a significant difference in the mean level of (Hsp70) between (AZ) groups and (OA) groups (Hsp70) levels showed a negative significant correlation with the concentration, progressive cell and non-progressive cell, and a positive significant correlation with the sample volume, viscosity of semen, P < 0.05. Conclusion: The total level of Hsp70 in the semen of men is higher in infertile men (AZ) and (OA), whereas we find lower levels in the semen of fertile men. A negative relationship was also found between the level of Hsp70 with semen concentrations and sperm motility and a positive relationship with the volume of the semen sample and its viscosity.