Nancy L. Brackett

Seminal reactive oxygen species and sperm motility and morphology in men with spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVEnTo assess the generation of reactive oxygen species and its relation to semen characteristics in men with spinal cord injury.nnnDESIGNnCross-sectional study.nnnSETTINGnAndrology laboratory at a tertiary care facility and research laboratory at a major medical center.nnnPATIENT(S)nMen with spinal cord injury and normal men.nnnINTERVENTION(S)nCollecting ejaculates from men with spinal cord injury by electroejaculation and vibratory stimulation and from normal men by masturbation.nnnMAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)nMeasurement of reactive oxygen species before and after stimulation with 50 microM N-formyl-methionyl-leucylphenylalanine (FMLP) and 100 nM 12-myristate 13-acetate phorbol ester (PMA), white blood cell (WBC) concentration, sperm motility and morphology, and ejaculation method.nnnRESULT(S)nCompared with controls, levels of reactive oxygen species in men with spinal cord injury were significantly higher in unstimulated, f-MLP-stimulated, and PMA-stimulated specimens. The WBC concentration was significantly elevated in patients with spinal cord injury. Sperm motility in men with spinal cord injury was inversely related to the level of reactive oxygen species. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was significantly lower in men with spinal cord injury. Levels of seminal reactive oxygen species did not differ when comparing specimen type (antegrade versus retrograde) or method of ejaculation in men with spinal cord injury.nnnCONCLUSION(S)nMen with spinal cord injury had elevated levels of reactive oxygen species in their semen. Levels of reactive oxygen species were negatively correlated with sperm motility. Levels of reactive oxygen species were independent of the method of ejaculation or the type of specimen.

Sperm Retrieval From the Bladder

In normal ejaculation, sperm exit the urethral meatus during orgasm (antegrade ejaculation), and very little, if any sperm enter the urinary bladder (retrograde ejaculation). Certain medical conditions, however, lead to retrograde ejaculation, and this condition may interfere with the mans ability to initiate a pregnancy by sexual intercourse. If pregnancy is a goal, it may be necessary to retrieve sperm from the bladder for use in assisted conception procedures. This article will describe methods of retrieving sperm from the urinary bladder.