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Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in human semen: determination of a reference range

  • Reproductive Physiology and Disease
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a leading cause of male factor infertility. Measurement of ROS has been hampered by a lack of standardisation and confounding variables including choice of controls and sample selection. This study aimed to determine a reference range for ROS in human semen.

Methods

Semen samples were obtained from men attending for routine semen analysis who gave informed consent for the study. Samples were assigned groups: Group 1 (N = 94) normal semen parameters, no leucocytospermia; Group 2 (N = 100) abnormal semen parameters, no leucocytospermia; Group 3 (N = 41) any semen parameters with leucocytospermia. ROS levels were assayed in fresh neat semen using a chemiluminescence assay measured in a single tube luminometer. Data are reported in relative light units (RLU)/sec/106 sperm

Results

ROS levels were significantly different between Groups 1, 2 and 3 (19.75 ± 8.12, 95.03 ± 33.63, 890.17 ± 310.23 RLU/sec/106 sperm respectively; p < 0.001). Group 3 gave the highest value confirming this group as the optimum choice for positive controls. The reference range < 24.1 RLU/sec/106 sperm was determined by ROC analysis that differentiates a reference population (Group 1) from a positive control group (Group 3), optimising the sensitivity and specificity (80.5 and 87.2 % respectively) of the test.

Conclusions

We have determined a reference range for ROS in human semen and identified a patient population that falls outside the normal range. This simple, cost effective assay can be incorporated into routine diagnostic testing to aid in the diagnosis of male infertility, especially with regard to unexplained infertility.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Jeffrey Hammell for support with statistical analysis

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology Department, The Doctors Laboratory, London, W1T 4EU, UK

    Sheryl T. Homa, Wayne Vessey, Ana Perez-Miranda & Tripat Riyait

  2. Andrology Solutions, London, W1G 9RT, UK

    Sheryl T. Homa

  3. Andrology Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

Authors
  1. Sheryl T. Homa
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  2. Wayne Vessey
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  3. Ana Perez-Miranda
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  4. Tripat Riyait
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  5. Ashok Agarwal
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Correspondence to Sheryl T. Homa.

Additional information

Capsule A reference range for reactive oxygen species in human semen has been determined using a chemiluminescence assay measured in a single tube luminometer.

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Homa, S.T., Vessey, W., Perez-Miranda, A. et al. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in human semen: determination of a reference range. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 757–764 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0454-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0454-x

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