Sperm ATP Düzeyleri ile Sperm Hareketsizliği Arasında Doğrusal Bir İlişki Var Mı?

Abstract

Amaç: Asthenozoospermi (AS) ve oligoasthenoteratozoospermi (OAT), farklı derecelerde sperm hareketsizliği ile karakterize edilen erkek infertilitesi fenotipleridir. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) eksikliğinin sperm motilitesinde azalmaya yol açtığı öne sürülmüş olsa da, hareketsiz sperm fenotipinin hücre içi ATP düzeyleri ile nasıl bir ilişki içinde olduğu yeterince araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalı şma, AS ve OAT olgularında sperm hareketsizliği ile ATP düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır.

Materyal ve metod: Semen örnekleri, AT, AS tanılı ve fertil kontrol grubundaki erkeklerden oluşan üç gruptan (her grup n=30) toplanmış ve Dünya Sağlık Örgütü (DSÖ) kriterlerine göre değerlendirilmiştir. Sperm hücreleri ayrıldıktan sonra hücre lizatı içinde ATP ve Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) düzeyleri biyolüminesans yöntemiyle ölçüldü.

Bulgular: OAT grubunda sperm ATP düzeyleri, hem AS hem de yaş-eşleştirilmiş kontrol grubuna göre daha yüksekti. ATP düzeylerindeki artışa rağmen, hiçbir grupta ilerleyici motilite yüzdesi ile ATP düzeyleri arasında anlamlı bir doğrusal ilişki gözlenmedi. OAT spermatozoalarında ADP/ATP oranı anlamlı şekilde yüksek bulundu ve bu oran motilite ile güçlü negatif korelasyon (r=-0,84, p<0,0001) gösterdi. Bu sonuçlar, motilite ve enerji metabolizmasındaki değişimlerin yalnızca ATP üretimi ile açıklanamayacağını ortaya koymaktadır.

Sonuç: AS ve OAT gruplarında ATP düzeyleri ile ilerleyici motilite arasında doğrudan ilişki olmaması, azalmış motilitenin sperm ATP içeriğini etkileyen tek ya da başlıca faktör olmadığını göstermektedir. OAT grubundaki yüksek ADP/ATP oranı, ATP üretimi ve /veya dengesizlik olduğunu düşündürmektedir. Sperm fonksiyonları ve erkek infertilitesi incelenirken hem enerji sentezi hem de kullanım süreçlerinin birlikte değerlendirilmesi önem arz etmektedir.

 

Keywords

• ATP
• Astenozoospermi
• Oligoastenoteratozoospermi
• Motilite
• Sperm

Is There a Linear Relationship Between Sperm ATP Levels and Non-Motility of Sperm?

Abstract

Background: Asthenozoospermia (AS) and       oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT)  are characterized by varying degrees of sperm immotility. While ATP deficiency has been proposed as a cause of impaired motility, the relationship between the immotile sperm phenotype and intracellular Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content remains insufficiently explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sperm motility impairment and intracellular ATP content in AS and OAT. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were obtained from three groups of men (n = 30 per group): patients diagnosed with OAT, AS, and fertile controls. Semen analysis was performed in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Following sperm isolation, intracellular ATP and Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) levels were quantified in sperm cell lysates using a bioluminescence-based assay.

Results: Sperm ATP levels were significantly higher in the OAT group compared with both AS and age-matched controls. Despite elevated ATP levels, no linear correlation was observed between progressive sperm motility and ATP levels in any group. The ADP/ATP ratio was significantly elevated in OAT spermatozoa and showed a strong negative correlation with progressive motility (r=-0.84, p<0.0001).

Conclusions: The absence of a linear correlation between ATP levels and progressive motility in both AS and OAT groups suggests that reduced motility is unlikely to be the primary determinant of sperm ATP content. The elevated ADP/ATP ratio observed in OAT sperm may reflect an imbalance between ATP production and/or utilization rather than increased ATP availability. Together, these findings highlight the complexity of sperm ATP metabolism and emphasize the importance of evaluating both energy synthesis and energy consumption when assessing sperm function and male infertility.

 

Keywords

• ATP
• Asthenozoospermia
• Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia
• Motility
• Sperm

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