Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic Men
This study focused on the identification of bacterial profiles of semen in normozoospermic men and their possible involvement in changes to the sperm structural integrity and functional activity. Furthermore, we studied possible fluctuations of selected cytokines, oxidative markers, and antibacteria...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/15/8678 |
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| author | Eva Tvrdá Daniel Lovíšek Eliška Gálová Marianna Schwarzová Eva Kováčiková Simona Kunová Jana Žiarovská Miroslava Kačániová |
| author_facet | Eva Tvrdá Daniel Lovíšek Eliška Gálová Marianna Schwarzová Eva Kováčiková Simona Kunová Jana Žiarovská Miroslava Kačániová |
| author_sort | Eva Tvrdá |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study focused on the identification of bacterial profiles of semen in normozoospermic men and their possible involvement in changes to the sperm structural integrity and functional activity. Furthermore, we studied possible fluctuations of selected cytokines, oxidative markers, and antibacterial proteins as a result of bacterial presence in the ejaculate. Sperm motility was assessed with computer-assisted sperm analysis, while sperm apoptosis, necrosis and acrosome integrity were examined with fluorescent methods. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was quantified via luminometry, sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated using the TUNEL protocol and chromatin-dispersion test, while the JC-1 assay was applied to evaluate the mitochondrial membrane potential. Cytokine levels were quantified with the biochip assay, whilst selected antibacterial proteins were quantified using the ELISA method. The predominant species identified by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry were <i>Staphylococcus hominis</i>, <i>Staphylococcus capitis</i> and <i>Micrococcus luteus</i>. The results revealed that the sperm quality decreased proportionally to the increasing bacterial load and occurrence of conditionally pathogenic bacteria, including <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed a substantial resistance of randomly selected bacterial strains to ampicillin, vancomycin, tobramycin, and tetracycline. Furthermore, an increased bacterial quantity in semen was accompanied by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha as well as ROS overproduction and lipid peroxidation of the sperm membranes. Our results suggest that semen quality may be notably affected by the bacterial quantity as well as quality. It seems that bacteriospermia may be associated with inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, sperm structural deterioration, and a subsequent risk for the development of subfertility, even in normozoospermic males. |
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| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:29:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
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| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-9d88e12a15e84710b04a8c7b54071c0a2023-11-30T22:30:13ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-08-012315867810.3390/ijms23158678Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic MenEva Tvrdá0Daniel Lovíšek1Eliška Gálová2Marianna Schwarzová3Eva Kováčiková4Simona Kunová5Jana Žiarovská6Miroslava Kačániová7Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaDepartment of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, Mlynská Dolina, 842 15 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, Mlynská Dolina, 842 15 Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Nutrition and Genomics, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaAgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaInstitute of Food Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaInstitute of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaInstitute of Horticulture, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, SlovakiaThis study focused on the identification of bacterial profiles of semen in normozoospermic men and their possible involvement in changes to the sperm structural integrity and functional activity. Furthermore, we studied possible fluctuations of selected cytokines, oxidative markers, and antibacterial proteins as a result of bacterial presence in the ejaculate. Sperm motility was assessed with computer-assisted sperm analysis, while sperm apoptosis, necrosis and acrosome integrity were examined with fluorescent methods. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was quantified via luminometry, sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated using the TUNEL protocol and chromatin-dispersion test, while the JC-1 assay was applied to evaluate the mitochondrial membrane potential. Cytokine levels were quantified with the biochip assay, whilst selected antibacterial proteins were quantified using the ELISA method. The predominant species identified by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry were <i>Staphylococcus hominis</i>, <i>Staphylococcus capitis</i> and <i>Micrococcus luteus</i>. The results revealed that the sperm quality decreased proportionally to the increasing bacterial load and occurrence of conditionally pathogenic bacteria, including <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed a substantial resistance of randomly selected bacterial strains to ampicillin, vancomycin, tobramycin, and tetracycline. Furthermore, an increased bacterial quantity in semen was accompanied by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha as well as ROS overproduction and lipid peroxidation of the sperm membranes. Our results suggest that semen quality may be notably affected by the bacterial quantity as well as quality. It seems that bacteriospermia may be associated with inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, sperm structural deterioration, and a subsequent risk for the development of subfertility, even in normozoospermic males.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/15/8678normozoospermiasemen qualitybacterial profilescytokinesoxidative stressantibacterial proteins |
| spellingShingle | Eva Tvrdá Daniel Lovíšek Eliška Gálová Marianna Schwarzová Eva Kováčiková Simona Kunová Jana Žiarovská Miroslava Kačániová Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic Men International Journal of Molecular Sciences normozoospermia semen quality bacterial profiles cytokines oxidative stress antibacterial proteins |
| title | Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic Men |
| title_full | Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic Men |
| title_fullStr | Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic Men |
| title_full_unstemmed | Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic Men |
| title_short | Possible Implications of Bacteriospermia on the Sperm Quality, Oxidative Characteristics, and Seminal Cytokine Network in Normozoospermic Men |
| title_sort | possible implications of bacteriospermia on the sperm quality oxidative characteristics and seminal cytokine network in normozoospermic men |
| topic | normozoospermia semen quality bacterial profiles cytokines oxidative stress antibacterial proteins |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/15/8678 |
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