News | New Diagnostic Test Offers Hope for Male Infertility by Identifying Functional Sperm
A study has produced a major advance in diagnosing male infertility. Developed by researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada, the test can identify functional sperm in men with infertility. The method could change male infertility treatment and improve assisted reproductive technology outcomes.
Male Infertility: A Global Challenge
Male infertility is a global health issue. About one in six couples trying to conceive experience infertility. In the United States, approximately 10% of men have infertility. A common cause is nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), in which impaired sperm development leaves no sperm in the semen.
Despite advances in assisted reproduction, sperm retrieval remains difficult. University of Alberta Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Andrei Drabovich said NOA treatment often requires surgical sperm retrieval, which may take up to ten hours and has inconsistent success. “Sometimes, after a lengthy operation, surgeons retrieve only a small number of intact sperm,” he said.
Developing a Noninvasive Diagnostic Method to Find Viable Sperm
Drabovich's team sought a noninvasive way to determine whether a patient with NOA could provide intact sperm and therefore might have a better chance of successful treatment. Using mass spectrometry, the team analyzed semen samples from fertile men and men with infertility, including obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia.
They identified two key proteins, AKAP4 and ASPX, in intact sperm from patients with NOA. Imaging flow cytometry showed ASPX in the sperm head and AKAP4 in the tail. Combining imaging with computational algorithms allowed intact sperm to be identified precisely among extensive cellular debris and incompletely developed sperm.
Exploring Protein Function to Inform Future Male Contraceptives
Drabovich noted that the roles of AKAP4 and ASPX are not fully understood, but studying them may inform both male infertility treatment and development of male contraceptives. “By studying these proteins, we hope to develop a nonhormonal male contraceptive,” he said.
The study provides a new diagnostic tool for male reproductive health and may change current infertility treatment. The team's findings also suggest that therapies based on this mechanism could eventually reach clinical use.
News | New Diagnostic Test Offers Hope for Male Infertility by Identifying Functional Sperm
News | New Diagnostic Test Offers Hope for Male Infertility by Identifying Functional Sperm
A study has produced a major advance in diagnosing male infertility. Developed by researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada, the test can identify functional sperm in men with infertility. The method could change male infertility treatment and improve assisted reproductive technology outcomes.
Male Infertility: A Global Challenge
Male infertility is a global health issue. About one in six couples trying to conceive experience infertility. In the United States, approximately 10% of men have infertility. A common cause is nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), in which impaired sperm development leaves no sperm in the semen.
Despite advances in assisted reproduction, sperm retrieval remains difficult. University of Alberta Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Andrei Drabovich said NOA treatment often requires surgical sperm retrieval, which may take up to ten hours and has inconsistent success. “Sometimes, after a lengthy operation, surgeons retrieve only a small number of intact sperm,” he said.
Developing a Noninvasive Diagnostic Method to Find Viable Sperm
Drabovich's team sought a noninvasive way to determine whether a patient with NOA could provide intact sperm and therefore might have a better chance of successful treatment. Using mass spectrometry, the team analyzed semen samples from fertile men and men with infertility, including obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia.
They identified two key proteins, AKAP4 and ASPX, in intact sperm from patients with NOA. Imaging flow cytometry showed ASPX in the sperm head and AKAP4 in the tail. Combining imaging with computational algorithms allowed intact sperm to be identified precisely among extensive cellular debris and incompletely developed sperm.
Exploring Protein Function to Inform Future Male Contraceptives
Drabovich noted that the roles of AKAP4 and ASPX are not fully understood, but studying them may inform both male infertility treatment and development of male contraceptives. “By studying these proteins, we hope to develop a nonhormonal male contraceptive,” he said.
The study provides a new diagnostic tool for male reproductive health and may change current infertility treatment. The team's findings also suggest that therapies based on this mechanism could eventually reach clinical use.
Source:
Collected online