Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

The Amino Acid Profile in Seminal Plasma of Normozoospermic Men: A Correlation Analysis with Spermiogram Parameters and Total Antioxidant Capacity

Authors
Naser Amirjannati 1
Ralf Henkel 2
Elham Hosseini 3
Peyman Choopanian 4
Hanieh Moghadasfar 5
Babak Arjmand 6
Lima Asgharpour Sarouey 5
Azadeh Haji Parvaneh 5
Kambiz Gilany 7
1 Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
2 LogixX Pharma, Theale, Berkshire, United Kingdom; Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, Un
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
4 Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
5 Avicenna Fertility Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
6 Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Iranian Cancer Control Center (MACSA), Tehran, Iran
7 Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Integrative Oncology Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
10.18502/jri.v24i4.14153
Abstract
Background: Male infertility is usually determined by the manual evaluation of the semen, namely the standard semen analysis. It is currently impossible to predict sperm fertilizing ability based on the semen analysis alone. Therefore, a more sensitive and selective diagnosis tool is required. Methods: Twelve fresh semen samples were collected from fertile volunteers attending the Avicenna Fertility Center (Tehran, Iran). The seminal plasma (SP) was prepared and subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was analysis. Thirty-four amino acids including essential amino acids (EAA), non-essential amino acids (NEAA), and non-proteinogenic amino acids (NPAA) relative concentration were determined, and the correlation between their concentration with spermiogram parameters and TAC of the SP was analyzed. Results: Significant positive correlations have been found between selected amino acids with the motility (Met and Gln, rs=0.92; Cys, rs=0.72; and Asn, rs=0.82), normal sperm morphology (Met, rs=0.92; Cys, rs=0.72; Glu, rs=0.92; and Asn, rs=0.82), and sperm concentration (Trp, Phe, and Ala). In contrast, several AAs, including Gly, Ser, and Ile showed negative correlations with sperm concentration (rs=-0.93, r=-0.92, and r=-0.89, respectively). Furthermore, TAC showed a positive association only with Tyr (rs=0.79). Conclusion: The strong positive/negative correlations between the seminal metabolic signature and spermiogram demonstrate the significance of determining metabolite levels under normal conditions for normal sperm functions. Combining the metabolome with the clinical characteristics of semen would enable clinicians to look beyond biomarkers toward the clinical interpretation of seminal parameters to explain the biological basis of sperm pathology.
Keywords
Amino acids
Human seminal plasma
LC
MS/MS
Spermiogram parameters
Total Antioxidant Capacity
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Journal of Reproduction & Infertility
Volume 24, Issue 4
Autumn 2023
Pages 257-268