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New Insights into Sperm Physiology and Pathology

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Fertility Control

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 198))

Abstract

Infertility is a relatively common condition affecting approximately one in ten of the population. In half of these cases, a male factor is involved, making defective sperm function the largest single, defined cause of human infertility. Among other factors, recent data suggest that oxidative stress plays a major role in the etiology of this condition. Spermatozoa spontaneously produce a variety of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including the superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide. Produced in small amounts, ROS are functionally important in driving the tyrosine phosphorylation cascades associated with sperm capacitation. However, when ROS production exceeds the spermatozoa’s limited antioxidant defenses, a state of oxidative stress is induced characterized by peroxidative damage to the sperm plasma membrane and DNA strand breakage in the sperm nucleus. Such oxidative stress not only disrupts the fertilizing potential of human spermatozoa but also the ability of these cells to create a normal healthy embryo. As a result, DNA damage in human spermatozoa is correlated with an increased incidence of miscarriage and various kinds of morbidity in the offspring. These insights into the pathophysiology of defective sperm function have clear implications for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility, particularly with respect to the potential importance of antioxidant therapy. These concepts may also be relevant to the design of novel approaches to male contraception that attempt to replicate the pathological situation.

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Abbreviations

8OHdG:

8-OH, 2′-deoxyguanosine

cAMP:

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

CMA3:

Chromomycin

DPI:

Diphenylene iodonium

DUOX:

Dual oxidase

H2O2 :

Hydrogen peroxide

NAD(P)H:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

NO:

Nitric oxide

NOX:

NAD(P)H oxidase family

ONOO:

Peroxynitrite

PKA:

Protein kinase A

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    R. John Aitken, Mark A. Baker, Geoffry N. De Iuliis & Brett Nixon

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  1. R. John Aitken
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  2. Mark A. Baker
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  3. Geoffry N. De Iuliis
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  4. Brett Nixon
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Correspondence to R. John Aitken .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Women's Health Care Research, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, 13342, Berlin, Germany

    Ursula-F. Habenicht

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence in, Biotechnology & Development, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, 2308, New South Wales, Australia

    R. John Aitken

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Aitken, R.J., Baker, M.A., De Iuliis, G.N., Nixon, B. (2010). New Insights into Sperm Physiology and Pathology. In: Habenicht, UF., Aitken, R. (eds) Fertility Control. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 198. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02062-9_7

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