Reactive oxygen species measured in the unprocessed semen samples of 715 infertile patients

Purpose: To determine whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) in semen samples could be measured with the Monolight^™ 3010 Luminometer.

Methods: Using the Monolight^™ 3010 Luminometer, the ROS was measured in the unprocessed semen samples of infertile male patients, as well as the luminescence of 190 semen samples. The samples were classified as "luminescence-detectable" (n = 89) and "luminescence-undetectable" (n = 101). Thereafter, the luminescence of the semen samples that had been obtained from the 715 infertile patients was measured and compared by using Sperm Motility Analyzing System measurements. Moreover, in order to investigate the ROS measurement consistency, the chemiluminescence values of 84 samples were measured concurrently by using the Monolight^™ 3010 Luminometer and the 1251 Luminometer^™.

Results: The semen volume, sperm motility, and progressive motility of the samples were significantly higher in the luminescence-undetectable samples. The sperm motility, straight-line velocity, curvilinear velocity, mean amplitude head displacement, beat cross frequency, and progressive motility showed an inverse correlation with the logarithmic-transformed luminescence level in the luminescence-detected samples. The integrated chemiluminescence levels in the 84 samples were correlated.

Conclusion: The substance that was measured in the unprocessed semen with the Monolight^™ 3010 Luminometer and stimulated chemiluminescence is ROS.