Azra Allavese, Marya Partovyan, Amir Abdolmaleki, Mohammad Jafar Rezaee, Zakaria Vahabzadeh, Negin Chavoshenejad,
Volume 29, Issue 6 (Scientific Journal of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences 2025)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Infertility is considered as one of the major human health challenges. Approximately, 40% of infertility cases are associated to the azoospermia. Reactive oxidative stress (ROS) damages the spermatozoa and causes male infertility. Human serum albumin (HSA) can potentially reduce DNA damage and increse the sperm capacity for successful fertilization. In the present study we assessed the potential therpeutic effects of HSA on spermatogenic parameters, protamine gene expression and DNA fragmentation index in non-obstructive azoospermic infertile patients.
Materials and Methods: Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) was used to collect the testicular biopsy (to collect sperm samples) from 20 azoospermia patients (20-40 years) on the basis of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The samples were divided into two groups of control (n=10, no intervention) and treatment (n=10, sperm samples incubated with HSA for 24hrs). Then, various spermatic parameters (motility, morphology, viability), DNA fragmentation, and protamine contents were assessed. The results were evaluated using SPSS software (v.19). p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Incubation of sperm with HSA (for 24 hours) can significantly (p<0.05) promote the progressive motility of sperm and lead to increased expression of protamine gene (type I and II). Also, HSA can significantly reduce the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation (p<0.05). Meanwhile, incubation with HSA had no significant effect on sperm morphology and survival rate.
Conclusion: Incubation of sperm extracted from infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia (for 24 hours) can potentially increase the progressive movement and protamine content of sperm and reduce DNA fragmentation.
