The role of nitric oxide on spermatogenesis in infertile men with azoospermia
Canan Hürdağ1, Yasemin Ersoy Çanıllıoğlu2, Aslı Kandil3, Meral Yüksel4, Ayşe Altun5, Evrim Ünsal6
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty of Demiroğlu Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey
2Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
3Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
4Vocational School of Health Related Professions, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
5Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
6Genart Woman Health and Reproductive Biotechnology Center, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords: Male infertility, mast cell, nitric oxide, oxidative stress, testicular sperm extraction
Abstract
Objectives: The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of azoospermia is still unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms and free radical release in testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in infertile men with azoospermia.
Materials and methods: The study included 40 men (mean age: 37.2±2 years; range 25 to 55 years) with azoospermia which were divided into two groups: spermatozoa-present (n=20) and spermatozoa-absent (n=20). Testicular samples were examined morphologically, immunohistochemically, and biochemically. The TESE samples were examined according to number of mast cells stained with toluidine blue; immunohistochemically with three types of NOS isoforms, and free radicals were measured with chemiluminescence method, respectively.
Results: Endothelial NOS (eNOS) reaction in spermatozoa-present group was considerably higher than spermatozoa-absent group (p<0.001). Compared to the spermatozoa-present group, inducible NOS (iNOS) reaction was higher than the spermatozoa-absent group (p<0.05). Neuronal NOS (nNOS) reaction was only prominent in Leydig cells in both groups. Mast cells increased (p<0.05) in the interstitial area surrounding seminiferous tubules in spermatozoa-absent samples. Superoxide radical generation in spermatozoa-present samples was significantly lower (p=0.0003). The peroxynitrite ratio in spermatozoa-absent samples was significantly higher (p=0.0038).
Conclusion: These results suggest that eNOS, iNOS, and mast cells play an important role in spermatogenesis process in azoospermic men.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.