• PMID: 12969693
• Gene Name: CYCS
• Condition: Male factor infertility
• Association: Infertile men have decreased sperm variables induced by higher ROS levels in semen. A positive relationship exists between increased sperm damage by ROS and higher levels of cytochrome c and caspases 9 and 3, which indicate positive apoptosis in patients
• Population size: 43
• Population details: 43 (35 patients with idiopathic infertility, 8 normal healthy donors)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: cytochrome c, caspases 9 and caspase 3
• Other associated phenotypes: Male factor infertility

Oxidative stress is associated with increased apoptosis leading to spermatozoa DNA damage in patients with male factor infertility

Wang X, Sharma RK, Sikka SC, Thomas AJ Jr, Falcone T, Agarwal A.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ejaculated spermatozoa from patients with male factor infertility for the role of cytochrome c and caspases 9 and 3 (the proteins known to mediate apoptosis) and to examine association between semen quality and apoptosis in the presence of oxidative stress. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Male infertility clinic at a tertiary health care center. PATIENT(S): Semen specimens from 35 patients with idiopathic infertility and 8 normal healthy donors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Levels of ROS, cytochrome c, and caspases 9 and 3 and semen variables. RESULT(S): Compared with normal donors, infertile patients had significantly higher levels (expressed as median [25th and 75th percentiles]) of ROS (4.15 x 10(6) counted photons per minute [cpm] [0.26, 40.16 x 10(6) cpm] vs. 0.06 x 10(6) cpm [0.02, 0.29 x 10(6) cpm]; P<.01), cytochrome c (2.78 [2.21, 43.65 vs. 1.5 [1.25, 2.2]; P<.01)], caspase 9 (2.52 [0.9, 4.28] vs. 6 [4.85, 7.63]; P<.006), and caspase 3 (0.56 [0.32, 1.02] vs. 1.69 [1.66, 2.67]; P<.01). Semen variables (motility, concentration, and morphology) were negatively correlated with caspase 9 and 3 (P<.05). Reactive oxygen species was positively correlated with cytochrome c (r=.43; P<.03), caspase 9 (r=.56; P<.001), and caspase 3 (r=.65;P<.01). CONCLUSION(S): Infertile men have decreased sperm variables induced by higher ROS levels in semen. A positive relationship exists between increased sperm damage by ROS and higher levels of cytochrome c and caspases 9 and 3, which indicate positive apoptosis in patients with male factor infertility. FAU - Wang, Xia AU - Wang X AD - Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. FAU - Sharma, Rakesh K AU - Sharma RK FAU - Sikka, Suresh C AU - Sikka SC FAU - Thomas, Anthony J Jr AU - Thomas AJ Jr FAU - Falcone, Tommaso AU - Falcone T