Effects of SLIRP on Sperm Motility and Oxidative Stress

BACKGROUND: Deficient spermatozoon motility is one of the main causes of male infertility. However, there are still no accurate and effective treatments in a clinical setting for male asthenospermia. Exploring the genes and mechanism of asthenospermia has become one of the hot topics in reproductive medicine. Our aim is to study the effect of SLRIP on human spermatozoon motility and oxidative stress. METHODS: Sperm samples were collected including a normospermia group (60 cases) and an asthenospermia group (50 cases). SLIRP protein expression in spermatozoa was examined by western blotting, and relative mRNA expression of SLIRP in spermatozoa was quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, and the activity of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in spermatozoa were also measured. RESULTS: The mRNA level and protein expression of SLIRP in the asthenospermia group were significantly reduced compared with those in the normospermia group. The ROS active oxygen level in the asthenospermia group significantly increased; however, the ATP content decreased significantly as well as the activity of MnSOD. CONCLUSION: SLIRP regulates human male fertility, and SLIRP and sperm progressive motility are positively correlated. The expression of SLIRP is declined, oxidative damage is increased, and energy metabolism is decreased in spermatozoa of asthenospermia patients compared to normospermia participants.