Oxidative Stress and Male Infertility.

Role of Oxidative Stress in Male Infertility: an Observational Case-control Study

Study Aims:

To evaluate the impact of oxidative and nitrosative stress, as well as DNA methylation, on male reproductive health. This is achieved by analyzing urinary biomarkers: 8-oxoGua, 8-oxoGuo, 8-oxodGuo, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NO2Tyr), 5-methylcytidine (5-MeCyt), and cotinine in infertile and fertile males.

Study Design:

A prospective observational case-control study comparing infertile male patients (cases) from a reproductive sciences center with fertile male volunteers (controls) from a gynecology and obstetrics department. The study focuses on understanding the role of oxidative stress in male infertility and its implications for assisted reproductive techniques.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Male Infertility
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: no intervention

Detailed Description

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples in their reproductive age. Male factors contribute to 45-50% of infertility cases, with 7% of the global male population diagnosed as infertile. Oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, plays a significant role in semen quality degradation. High levels of ROS, unbalanced by antioxidant mechanisms, damage spermatozoa, affecting motility and morphology, and compromising their fertilizing ability. Excessive ROS production, antioxidant depletion, and inactivation or reduced production of antioxidant enzymes contribute to this imbalance. Oxidative stress not only induces lipid peroxidation in sperm membranes but also impacts DNA integrity and increases apoptosis rates. It is estimated to be a significant factor in 30-80% of male infertility cases. Oxidative and nitrosative stress are interrelated; increased ROS levels can interact with nitrogen species, causing further reproductive function damage. Urinary oxidized nucleic acid bases, particularly 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo), serve as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Additionally, DNA methylation plays a crucial role in biological processes, with 5-methylcytidine (5-MeCyt) acting as an epigenetic biomarker.

Objectives:

The primary objective is to assess the role of oxidative, nitrosative stress, and DNA methylation on male reproductive health by evaluating urinary biomarkers: 8-oxoGua, 8-oxoGuo, 8-oxodGuo, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NO2Tyr), 5-MeCyt, and cotinine. The secondary objectives include evaluating semen quality parameters impacted by oxidative stress and identifying potential environmental and lifestyle exposure sources contributing to oxidative stress.

Study Design:

This monocentric, prospective observational study will involve two patient groups: infertile male patients ("cases") attending the Center for Reproductive Sciences and fertile male volunteers ("controls") from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Procedures for patients and volunteers are additional to the study protocol and not experimental in nature. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of oxidative stress in male infertility and its potential impact on assisted reproductive techniques.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 800

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: LUCA PAGLIARDINI; Phone Number: +39 02 2643 4834; Email: pagliardini.luca@hsr.it

Study Locations

• Italy
  • MI
    • Milan, MI, Italy, 20132
      • Recruiting
      • IRCCS San Raffaele
      • Contact: LUCA PAGLIARDINI; Phone Number: +39 02 2643 4834; Email: pagliardini.luca@hsr.it

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study includes 800 males in two groups. Group 1: 400 males from the Center for Reproductive Sciences, aged 18-50, diagnosed with infertility after over 12 months of unsuccessful conception (ART criteria, law 40/2004). Exclusions: clear infertility diagnoses (endocrinological disorders, testicular trauma, vasectomy, epididymitis, orchitis, cryptorchidism, varicocele, azoospermia), past genital radiological treatments, abnormal WHO creatinuria (0.3-3 grams).

Group 2: 400 healthy males from Obstetrics and Gynecology, aged 18-50, who fathered a child naturally within 12 months. Exclusions: ART conception, over 12 months for conception, abnormal WHO creatinuria levels.

This diverse population enables analyzing oxidative stress's role in male infertility, comparing infertile and fertile males' biological markers and health profiles.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Infertile Male Patients: a diagnosis of couple infertility due to no conception for over 12 months (as per the access criteria for Assisted Reproductive Technology defined by law 40/2004), aged between 18 and 50 years, and having signed informed consent.

Fertile Males:Inclusion criteria are having fathered at least one child, aged between 18 and 50 years, and having signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Infertile Male Patients: Exclusion criteria include a clear diagnosis of infertility due to established clinical evidence (evident endocrinological disorders, previous testicular trauma, vasectomy, epididymitis, orchitis, cryptorchidism, varicocele), inability to produce a useful semen sample for analysis (azoospermia), past diseases that involved radiological therapies in the genital area, and creatinuria levels outside the WHO normal range (0.3-3 grams).

Fertile Males:conception using assisted reproductive techniques and a waiting time of more than 12 months for conception, as well as creatinuria levels outside the WHO normal range (0.3-3 grams).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Infertile Male Patients	Other: no intervention; no intervention
Fertile males	Other: no intervention; no intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To evaluate the impact of oxidative and nitrosative stress, as well as DNA methylation, on male reproductive health.	Analyze urinary biomarkers: 8-oxoGua, 8-oxoGuo, 8-oxodGuo, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NO2Tyr), 5-methylcytidine (5-MeCyt), and cotinine in infertile and fertile males.	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: IRCCS San Raffaele
• Investigators: Study Director: Enrico Papaleo, IRCCS San Raffaele; Principal Investigator: Luca Pagliardini, IRCCS San Raffaele

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 27, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 8, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2024
• First Posted (Estimated): January 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 18, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2024
• Last Verified: January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases, Male; Genital Diseases; Infertility; Infertility, Male
• Other Study ID Numbers: INAIL OSES2022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No