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. 2015 Jul-Aug;17(4):668-75.
doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.146967.

Effect of transient scrotal hyperthermia on sperm parameters, seminal plasma biochemical markers, and oxidative stress in men

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Effect of transient scrotal hyperthermia on sperm parameters, seminal plasma biochemical markers, and oxidative stress in men

Meng Rao et al. Asian J Androl. 2015 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

In this experimental prospective study, we aimed to analyze the effect of transient scrotal hyperthermia on the male reproductive organs, from the perspective of sperm parameters, semen plasma biochemical markers, and oxidative stress, to evaluate whether different frequencies of heat exposure cause different degrees of damage to spermatogenesis. Two groups of volunteers (10 per group) received testicular warming in a 43°C water bath 10 times, for 30 min each time: group 1: 10 consecutive days; group 2: once every 3 days. Sperm parameters, epididymis and accessory sex gland function, semen plasma oxidative stress and serum sex hormones were tested before treatment and in the 16-week recovery period after treatment. At last, we found an obvious reversible decrease in sperm concentration (P = 0.005 for Group 1 and P= 0.008 for Group 2 when the minimums were compared with baseline levels, the same below), motility (P = 0.009 and 0.021, respectively), the hypoosmotic swelling test score (P = 0.007 and 0.008, respectively), total acrosin activity (P = 0.018 and 0.009, respectively), and an increase in the seminal plasma malondialdehyde concentration (P = 0.005 and 0.017, respectively). The decrease of sperm concentration was greater for Group 2 than for Group 1 (P = 0.031). We concluded that transient scrotal hyperthermia seriously, but reversibly, negatively affected the spermatogenesis, oxidative stress may be involved in this process. In addition, intermittent heat exposure more seriously suppresses the spermatogenesis compared to consecutive heat exposure. This may be indicative for clinical infertility etiology analysis and the design of contraceptive methods based on heat stress.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean (±s.e.m.) sperm concentration (a), sperm progressive motility (b) and total sperm count (c) before and after treatment in the 2 groups of subjects. *P < 0.05 when compared with baseline in Group 1; **P < 0.01 when compared with baseline in Group 1; #P < 0.05 when compared with baseline in Group 2; ##P < 0.01 when compared with baseline in Group 2.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of subjects in each treatment group in which the sperm concentration was suppressed to severe oligozoospermia (less than 5 million ml−1; black bars) and oligozoospermia (less than 15 million ml−1; black bars plus dark hatched bars).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean (±s.e.m.) sperm hypo-osmotic swelling rate (a), sperm total acrosin activity (b) before and after treatment in the 2 groups of subjects. There were 3, 3 and 1 values missing at week 6, 8 and 10 respectively in Group 1 due to low value of total sperm count; there were 1, 5, 8, 1 and 1 values missing at week 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 respectively in Group 2 due to low value of total sperm count. *P < 0.05 when compared with baseline in Group 1; **P < 0.01 when compared with baseline in Group 1; #P < 0.05 when compared with baseline in Group 2; ##P < 0.01 when compared with baseline in Group 2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean (±s.e.m.) serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol (E2), testosterone (t), free T and sex hormone-binding globulin before and after treatment in the 2 groups of subjects. *P < 0.05 when compared with baseline in Group 1. All P > 0.05 when compared with baseline levels except for E2 test at week 3 in Group 1 (P = 0.037).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mean (±s.e.m.) seminal plasma neutral a-glucosidase (a), fructose (b) and zinc (c) concentration before and after hyperthermia in the 2 groups of subjects. All P > 0.05 when compared with baseline levels.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Mean (±s.e.m.) seminal plasma SOD (a), CAT (b) and MDA (c) content before and after hyperthermia in the 2 groups of subjects. *P < 0.05 when compared with baseline in Group 1; **P < 0.01 when compared with baseline in Group 1; #P < 0.05 when compared with baseline in Group 2; ##P < 0.01 when compared with baseline in Group 2. SOD: superoxide dismutase; CAT: catalase; MDA: malondialdehyde.

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