E.V. Proskurnina1, M.V. Fedorova2, D.A. Okhobotov3, A.A. Kamalov4

1 Research Centre for Medical Genetics (Moscow, Russia)

2–4 Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia)

2,3 Medical Research and Education Center, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia)

Oxidative stress is characterized by excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It plays the significant pathogenetic role in male fertility decline. Along with leukocytes, sperm are key sources of ROS in semen.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the production of intracellular sources of superoxide radical anion in spermatozoa: mitochondria and NADPH-dependent oxidoreductases.

Ejaculate samples from 62 men of reproductive age who applied to the Medical Research and Education Center of the Moscow State University (Moscow) for sperm examination. According to the results of sperm examination, the patients were divided into the following groups: normozoospermia control group, asthenozoospermia, and asthenoteratozoospermia. Patients with azoospermia, oligozoospermia, leukospermia, and varicocele were excluded from the study. Using original methods based on the registration of L-012-enhanced chemiluminescence and lucigenin-activated chemiluminescence in the presence of a NADPH stimulus, the production of superoxide radical anion by spermatozoa of semen was assessed, the sources of which are NADPH oxidase and mitochondria, and the activity of NADPH oxidase cytochrome P450 reductase), which is also a source of reactive oxygen species, for groups of ejaculate samples with normozoospermia and pathozoospermia. Ejaculate samples with pathozoospermia, especially with asthenoteratozoospermia, were characterized by a higher level of superoxide anion radical production and cytochrome P450 reductase activity.

The data obtained indicate that the sources of reactive oxygen species in spermatozoa are an important component of oxidative stress processes, which progressively increases with the severity of pathozoospermia.

Proskurnina E.V., Fedorova M.V., Okhobotov D.A., Kamalov A.A. Intracellular homeostasis of reactive oxygen species in spermatozoa: experience with chemiluminescence. Technologies of Living Systems. 2022. V. 19. № 1. Р. 38-44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/ j20700997-202201-05 (In Russian)

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