• PMID: 26064412
• Gene Name: CASP8
• Condition: Sperm motility, Male infertility
• Association: Compared with the healthy fertile controls, only the OAT group exhibited significantly increased level of caspase-8 in sperm (P < 0.05). It is concluded that caspase-8 and caspase-9 in sperm and plasma are correlated with sperm motility, and can reflect t
• Population size: 76
• Population details: 76 (19 asthenospermia, 20 oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, 17 azoospermia, 20 controls)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Sperm motility, Male infertility

Differences in caspase-8 and -9 activity and sperm motility in infertile males of Li nationality in China

Wei X, Li Q, Han Z, Lin D, Yu P.

This study's objectives are to assess the efficacy of detecting apoptotic caspase-3, -8, and -9 in human sperm and plasma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and to compare these levels between fertile and infertile patient groups of Li nationality in China. This study offers a non-invasive, alternative strategy to analyzing sperm parameters in infertile males. Fifty-six infertile males were investigated; asthenospermia (n = 19), oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (n = 20), azoospermia (n = 17) compared with 20 healthy fertile controls. They were subjected to semen analysis by computer-assisted sperm assay (CASA). We found that caspase-3, -8, -9 existed in all specimens in both sperms and plasma. The level of caspase-3 and caspase-8 in plasma were both significantly higher than in sperm. Levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 in sperm and plasma were significantly negatively correlated with sperm concentration, motility and A % (motility grade A). The level of caspase-8 in plasma was significantly negatively correlated with sperm concentration. However, only in healthy fertile controls sperm concentration was significantly negatively correlated with caspase-9 in sperm. Compared with the healthy fertile controls, only the OAT group exhibited significantly increased level of caspase-8 in sperm (P < 0.05). It is concluded that caspase-8 and caspase-9 in sperm and plasma are correlated with sperm motility, and can reflect the quality of sperm in vitro. FAU - Wei, Xiaobin AU - Wei X AD - Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University 88 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410008, China ; Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College in Central South University 43 People's Blvd, HaiKou 570208, China. FAU - Li, Qixing AU - Li Q AD - Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College in Central South University 43 People's Blvd, HaiKou 570208, China. FAU - Han, Zhouxin AU - Han Z AD - The Second people's Hospital of Hainan Province 24 Aimin Road, Wuzhishan 572200, China. FAU - Lin, Danqin AU - Lin D AD - The Second people's Hospital of Hainan Province 24 Aimin Road, Wuzhishan 572200, China.