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Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2004; 2: 12.
Published online 2004 March 23. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-2-12.
PMCID: PMC400757
Reactive oxygen species and sperm cells
Dorota Sanocka1 and Maciej Kurpiszcorresponding author1
1Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
corresponding authorCorresponding author.
Dorota Sanocka: sanodor/at/man.poznan.pl; Maciej Kurpisz: kurpimac/at/man.poznan.pl
Received October 16, 2003; Accepted March 23, 2004.
Abstract
There is a dynamic interplay between pro- and anti-oxidant substances in human ejaculate. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation can overwhelm protective mechanism and initiate changes in lipid and/or protein layers of sperm plasma membranes. Additionally, changes in DNA can be induced. The essential steps of lipid peroxidation have been listed as well as antioxidant substances of semen. A variety of detection techniques of lipid peroxidation have been summarized together with the lipid components of sperm membranes that can be subjected to stress. It is unsolved, a threshold for ROS levels that may induce functional sperm ability or may lead to male infertility.