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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Infertility | Research

Effects of N-acetyl-cysteine supplementation on sperm quality, chromatin integrity and level of oxidative stress in infertile men

Authors: Rahil Jannatifar, Kazem Parivar, Nasim Hayati Roodbari, Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Infertile men have higher levels of semen reactive oxygen species (ROS) than fertile men. High levels of semen ROS can cause sperm dysfunction, sperm DNA damage and reduced male reproductive potential. This study investigated the effects of supplementation with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) on the sperm quality, chromatin integrity and levels of oxidative stress in infertile men.

Methods

The study was carried out in the unit of ACECR Infertility Research Center, Qom, Iran. The patients consisted of 50 infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia who received NAC (600 mg/d) orally for 3 months, after which they were compared with pre-treatment status. Semen was analyzed according to WHO (2010), followed by the assessment of protamine content [chromomycin A3 (CMA3)] and DNA integrity [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)]. Oxidative stress markers, i.e. total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as hormonal profile (LH, FSH, Testosterone and Prolactin) were determined by ELISA kit.

Results

After NAC treatment, patients’ sperm count and motility increased significantly whereas abnormal morphology, DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency showed significant decreases compared to pre-treatment levels (P < 0.05). Hormonal profile improvement was associated with lowered FSH and LH levels and increased amount of testosterone (P < 0.05). TAC significantly increased and MDA decreased with an inverse significant correlation between TAC and MDA (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

NAC oral supplementation may improve sperm parameters and oxidative/antioxidant status in infertile males.
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Metadata
Title
Effects of N-acetyl-cysteine supplementation on sperm quality, chromatin integrity and level of oxidative stress in infertile men
Authors
Rahil Jannatifar
Kazem Parivar
Nasim Hayati Roodbari
Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-019-0468-9

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