What are Reactive oxygen species ? Ans: Reactive oxygen species are
metabolites of oxygen and include A) superoxide anion, B) hydrogen peroxide, C) hydroxyl radical and D) nitric
oxide.
ROS is
produced by both spermatozoa and anda also by leucocytes. Therefore increased number
of sperms(polyzoospermia ) would produce
more ROS. When present in excess they can initiate oxidative damage
to cellular lipids, proteins and DNA of sperms making them unable to fertilize.
Fortunately
most cells are equipped with enzymatic or non enzymatic antioxidant systems. The seminal plasma also has
these enzymes. Now coming to sperm preparation in IUI / ART procedure, while
preparing sperms, seminal plasma is removed and the sperms are rendered
vulnerable to oxidative attack affecting sperm function.
Different
costly lab Tests can differentiate ROS produced from sperms and those from
leucocytes. Chemiluminescent
procedures employing probes such as luminal or lucigenin may be used to measure
ROS production.
No comments:
Post a Comment