Evaluation of Current Antioxidant Profile in Semen

Abstract

Mammalian spermatozoa have a high energy demand to function. Spermatozoa contain approximately 50 to 75 mitochondria. The production of free radicals called hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide anion (•O), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and nitric oxide (NO) containing reactive oxygen species occurs in spermatozoon, like any other cell that performs aerobic metabolism (Bansal and Bilaspuri, 2010a). These ROSs are highly reactive molecules since their outer shell has an unpaired electron. In addition, they have a very short half-life between nanoseconds and milliseconds. ROS is formed by natural cell activity and participates in the normal cell cycle. Gametes are often susceptible to attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and manipulating gametes in vitro during assisted reproductive techniques can cause ROS to be generated by cells and exposed to ROS at supraphysiological levels (Agarwal et al., 2014). However, oxidative stress (OS) is called when the ROS production exceeds the physiological range and oxidants become more than antioxidants. The resulting OS production causes harmful effects that result in the oxidation of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleotides (Birben et al., 2012). ROS formation in spermatozoa is likewise a natural physiological process and affects essential reproductive processes such as gametes, spermatozoon-oocyte interactions, implantation, and early development of embryos. A common and significant technique, sperm cryopreservation provides a valuable therapeutic alternative in the field of assisted reproduction (Hezavehei et al., 2018). Osmotic stress that occurs during Evaluation of Current Antioxidant Profile in Semen