Oxidative stress and pathozoospermia
Introduction. The analysis of domestic and foreign publications indicates that oxidative stress is accompanying and/ or plays one of pathogenic role in development of many types of reproductive disorders in men of various ethnic groups. The state of health of the male population affected by factors related to lifestyle, environment, population genotype. These changes are expressed not only in deterioration of spermatogenesis, but also in appearance of an oxidative stress signs in blood serum and ejaculate in men of reproductive age. Accordingly, specialists in male reproductive health are actively studying the main aspects of the diagnosis and effects of oxidative stress (OS) on male fertility, to assess the possible use of antioxidants to improve the parameters of the ejaculate. Accordingly, fertility specialists are actively exploring the diagnosis of such stress in spermatozoa and evaluating the possible use of antioxidants to ameliorate this condition. The purpose of our research was definition of the OS level and antioxidant activity of the ejaculate at different types of the pathozoospermia caused by diseases of the organs of the reproductive system. Marerials and metod. The material for the study was ejaculate, obtained from the parameters of the WHO recommendations of the 5th edition. A total of 69 men aged 20 to 45 years were examined. In the group of patients with varicocele (14 patients), the diagnosis was established per ultrasound with color Doppler ultrasound of the scrotal organs. The group with azoospermia (11 patients) consisted of patients with non-obstructive form of azoospermia. The group with astenozoospermia (14 patients) included patients without varicocele and chronic prostatitis. The group with normozoospermia (14 persons) is represented by fertile men. Separately, a group of patients with varicocele (16 people) who were examined before and after varicocelectomy were identified. Results. Based on the results obtained, it can be assumed that varicocele is the etiological factor that creates a condition for the emergence of the OS, and varicocelectomy neutralizes the excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduces the fragmentation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Oxidative stress occurs only in the group of patients with varicocele, but not in patients with pathozoospermia, which may indicate the pathogenetic role of chronic ischemia accompanying varicocele, in initiating excess ROS production. Thus, when a varicocele is detected accompanied by asthenoteratozoospermia, it is necessary to evaluate the degree of DNA fragmentation. Surgical correction of varicocele leads to an increase in the fertility of the ejaculate due to a decrease in the level of OS, and an increase in the number of cells with normal packing of chromatin.