madman
Super Moderator
Abstract
Background: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a crucial role in spermatogenesis; in this study, we assessed the effect of recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) on sperm parameters, chromatin status, and clinical outcomes of infertile oligozoospermic men candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Materials and Methods: These interventional randomized clinical trials (IRCT) included 40 infertile oligozoospermic men undergoing ICSI. These individuals were randomized into two groups: 20 men who received rhFSH drug for three months and the other 20 men who did not receive rhFSH drug were considered the control group. Before and 3 months after treatment initiation, sperm parameters (using computer-assisted semen analysis) and chromatin status [using chromomycin A3, aniline blue, and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) tests] were assessed in these individuals. Furthermore, the hormonal profile was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical outcomes of ICSI were also compared between the two groups.
Results: The rhFSH treated group showed a significant increase in the level of FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and prolactin (PRL), as well as significant improvements in sperm parameters compared to the control group. Also, after administration of rhFSH, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of sperm DNA damage, protamine deficiency, and chromatin immaturity, while such a reduction in these parameters was not observed in the control group. Moreover, the percentage of embryos with grade A quality was significantly higher in the rhFSH group compared to the control group. The pregnancy rate in the rhFSH group was higher than the control group but the difference was insignificant.
Conclusion: Administration of rhFSH improves sperm quality in infertile oligozoospermic men and results in higher rates of good quality embryos post-ICSI (Registration number: IRCT20170923036334N2).
Introduction
Reduced sperm count termed based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as “oligozoospermia”, is known as one of the major causes of male infertility and its prevalence shows regional variations (1). Commonly, this abnormality is accompanied by a reduced percentage of sperm motility. Previous studies showed that oligozoospermia is a multifactorial condition in which genetic factors, such as chromosomal and single-gene alterations, account for 20-30% of the cases (2, 3). In addition, other factors including hormonal imbalance, environmental factors, varicocele, sexually transmitted diseases, obstruction, testicular trauma, secondary testicular failure, infection, and inflammation may be considered other etiological factors for the condition (3-5). Among the aforementioned etiologies, hormonal imbalance due to improper function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, is considered one of the main underlying reasons for reduced sperm production leading to oligozoospermia. In the male, this axis controls sperm production and is governed by the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland leading eventually to the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which results in testicular production of estrogen and testosterone (T) hormone which are required for spermatogenesis (6-8). In this context, it was shown that aging- derived structural changes in the median eminence, alter GnRH release, and can affect FSH and LH production (9). Another cause of oligozoospermia is reduced FSH level in conditions such as Kallmann syndrome, isolated FSH deficiency, or hyperprolactinemia. Moreover, environmental and lifestyle factors can also cause FSH reduction (10).
Discussion
The results of the current study clearly showed that mean percentage of sperm parameters, protamine deficiency, DNA fragmentation and chromatin immaturity were significantly improved in oligozoospermic men treated with rhFSH for three months compared to untreated oligozoospermic men. In addition, the hormonal profile of these individuals were significantly improved compared to the control group. These results showed that administration of rhFSH was effective in improving spermatogenesis function in oligozoospermic men. In this regard, several clinical trials and a study in a monkey model revealed an increase in testicular volume after FSH treatment, indicating that FSH hormone could increase germ cell proliferation in seminiferous tubules (19, 31, 32). In the light of these considerations, we assessed the effect of rhFSH on sperm functional parameters and clinical outcomes in infertile oligozoospermic men candidate for ICSI.
Conclusion
Taken together, based on the results of this study, treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermic individuals with rhFSH not only improves sperm parameters sperm chromatin integrity and hormonal profile, but also significantly improves embryo quality post-ICSI and insignificantly improves the pregnancy rate.
Background: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a crucial role in spermatogenesis; in this study, we assessed the effect of recombinant human FSH (rhFSH) on sperm parameters, chromatin status, and clinical outcomes of infertile oligozoospermic men candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Materials and Methods: These interventional randomized clinical trials (IRCT) included 40 infertile oligozoospermic men undergoing ICSI. These individuals were randomized into two groups: 20 men who received rhFSH drug for three months and the other 20 men who did not receive rhFSH drug were considered the control group. Before and 3 months after treatment initiation, sperm parameters (using computer-assisted semen analysis) and chromatin status [using chromomycin A3, aniline blue, and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) tests] were assessed in these individuals. Furthermore, the hormonal profile was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical outcomes of ICSI were also compared between the two groups.
Results: The rhFSH treated group showed a significant increase in the level of FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and prolactin (PRL), as well as significant improvements in sperm parameters compared to the control group. Also, after administration of rhFSH, there was a significant reduction in the percentage of sperm DNA damage, protamine deficiency, and chromatin immaturity, while such a reduction in these parameters was not observed in the control group. Moreover, the percentage of embryos with grade A quality was significantly higher in the rhFSH group compared to the control group. The pregnancy rate in the rhFSH group was higher than the control group but the difference was insignificant.
Conclusion: Administration of rhFSH improves sperm quality in infertile oligozoospermic men and results in higher rates of good quality embryos post-ICSI (Registration number: IRCT20170923036334N2).
Introduction
Reduced sperm count termed based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as “oligozoospermia”, is known as one of the major causes of male infertility and its prevalence shows regional variations (1). Commonly, this abnormality is accompanied by a reduced percentage of sperm motility. Previous studies showed that oligozoospermia is a multifactorial condition in which genetic factors, such as chromosomal and single-gene alterations, account for 20-30% of the cases (2, 3). In addition, other factors including hormonal imbalance, environmental factors, varicocele, sexually transmitted diseases, obstruction, testicular trauma, secondary testicular failure, infection, and inflammation may be considered other etiological factors for the condition (3-5). Among the aforementioned etiologies, hormonal imbalance due to improper function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, is considered one of the main underlying reasons for reduced sperm production leading to oligozoospermia. In the male, this axis controls sperm production and is governed by the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary gland leading eventually to the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which results in testicular production of estrogen and testosterone (T) hormone which are required for spermatogenesis (6-8). In this context, it was shown that aging- derived structural changes in the median eminence, alter GnRH release, and can affect FSH and LH production (9). Another cause of oligozoospermia is reduced FSH level in conditions such as Kallmann syndrome, isolated FSH deficiency, or hyperprolactinemia. Moreover, environmental and lifestyle factors can also cause FSH reduction (10).
Discussion
The results of the current study clearly showed that mean percentage of sperm parameters, protamine deficiency, DNA fragmentation and chromatin immaturity were significantly improved in oligozoospermic men treated with rhFSH for three months compared to untreated oligozoospermic men. In addition, the hormonal profile of these individuals were significantly improved compared to the control group. These results showed that administration of rhFSH was effective in improving spermatogenesis function in oligozoospermic men. In this regard, several clinical trials and a study in a monkey model revealed an increase in testicular volume after FSH treatment, indicating that FSH hormone could increase germ cell proliferation in seminiferous tubules (19, 31, 32). In the light of these considerations, we assessed the effect of rhFSH on sperm functional parameters and clinical outcomes in infertile oligozoospermic men candidate for ICSI.
Conclusion
Taken together, based on the results of this study, treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermic individuals with rhFSH not only improves sperm parameters sperm chromatin integrity and hormonal profile, but also significantly improves embryo quality post-ICSI and insignificantly improves the pregnancy rate.
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