J Korean Androl Soc.  1997 Jun;15(1):29-38.

Effects of Reactive Oxygen Species on Hyperactivation and Penetration Assay of Human Spermatozoa

• Jeon SS
• Kim CM
• Paick JS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Our previous studies suggested that the reactive oxygen radical may be involved in hyperactivation of human sperm, in that superoxide anion promotes, and hydrogen peroxide inhibits, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction of fertile human sperm.
METHODS
We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hyperactivation and th sperm penetration assay (SPA) used to predict the potential for fertilization of human sperm.
RESULTS
The addition of xanthine, xanthine oxidase and catalase (generation of superoxide anion and removal of hydrogen peroxide)to sperm induced hyperactivation (14.6%), the level of which was significantly higher than that of control(7.5%). However, the penetration index (PI) and penetration rate (PR) showed no significant differences in comparison with those of the contro, The addition of xanthine, xanthine oxidase and superoxide dismutase (Generation of hydrogen peroxide and removal of superoxide anion)to the sperm induced hyperactivation (1.9%), the level of which was significantly lower than that of control (7.5%). However, the penetration index (PI) and penetration rate (PR) showed no significant differences in comparison with those of the control. The addition of xanthine, xanthine oxidase and superoxide dismutase (generation of hydrogen peroxide and removal of superoxide anion) to the sperm induced hyperactivation (1.9%), the level of which was significantly lower than that of control(7.5%). Again, however, the level of PI and PR also showed no significant differences in comparison with those of the control. These results suggested that ROS were involved, not only in capacitation and hyperactivation of human spermatozoa, but also in the peroxidation of phospholipids during the SPA. The adverse effects from the peroxidation of phospholipids might be the reason the SPA results were not significantly different in the ROS-treated and control wpecimens. The addition of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (generation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide) to sperm induced significantly less hyperactivation and lower PI and PR values than those of the control.
CONCLUSION
These results suggested that superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide have an additive effect in decreasing the response in the SPA.

MeSH Terms

Acrosome Reaction
Catalase
Fertilization
Free Radicals
Humans*
Hydrogen
Hydrogen Peroxide
Oxygen
Phospholipids
Reactive Oxygen Species*
Sperm Capacitation
Sperm-Ovum Interactions
Spermatozoa*
Superoxide Dismutase
Superoxides
Xanthine
Xanthine Oxidase
Catalase
Free Radicals
Hydrogen
Hydrogen Peroxide
Oxygen
Phospholipids
Reactive Oxygen Species
Superoxide Dismutase
Superoxides
Xanthine
Xanthine Oxidase