Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ROS in seminal plasma of infertile men undergoing IVF/ICSI therapy on the sperm vitality, membrane integrity, DNA integrity and DNA strand breaks before and after semen processing by Pure Sperm gradients centrifugation and its effect on fertilization and pregnancy rate. Semen sample of patients (n = 87) were collected from men undergoing IVF or ICSI therapy. Sperm vitality, membrane, DNA integrity and DNA stand breaks in fresh semen samples were (41.9 +/- 24.2%; 57.6 +/- 21.5%; 44.4 +/- 24.3%; and 51.4 +/- 22.9% respectively) and the corresponding values after semen processing were (53.9 +/- 21.2%;69.8 +/- 18.8%; 64.5 +/- 20.8%; and 70.5% +/- 18.9% respectively). ROS concentration in the native semen samples was 46.4 +/- 67.86 mu mol/l. ROS in seminal plasma correlate negatively, but not significant, with vitality and membrane integrity before and after semen processing. Conclusion: ROS concentration in seminal plasma affects spermatozoa's quality but can not affect the fertilization and pregnancy rate.