Fertility and Sterility
Volume 83, Issue 2 , Pages 355-361 , February 2005

Oral carnitine supplementation increases sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men with normal sperm phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase levels

  • Andrea Garolla, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
    • ,
  • Matilde Maiorino, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
    • ,
  • Alberto Roverato, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Social, Cognitive and Quantitative Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
    • ,
  • Antonella Roveri, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
    • ,
  • Fulvio Ursini, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
    • ,
  • Carlo Foresta, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Carlo Fresta, Ph.D., Center for Male Gametes Cryopreservation, Via Modena 9, Padova I-35128, Italy (FAX: 39-49-8213222

Received 7 August 2002 ,Revised 21 February 2003 ,Accepted 21 February 2003.

References 

  1. Yeung CH , Majumder GC , Rolf C , Behre HM , Cooper TG . The role of phosphocreatine kinase in the motility of human spermatozoa supported by different metabolic substrates . Mol Hum Reprod . 1996;2:591–596
  2. Ursini F , Heim S , Kiess M , Maiorino M , Roveri A , Wissing J , et al.  Dual function of the selenoprotein PHGPx during sperm maturation . Science . 1999;285:1393–1396
  3. Brigelius-Flohè R , Aumann KD , Blöcker H , Gross G , Kiess M , Klöppel KD , et al.  Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase: genomic DNA, cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence . J Biol Chem . 1994;269:7342–7348
  4. Flohè L, Brigelius-Flohè R. Selenoproteins of the glutathione system. In: Hatfield D, ed. Selenium: its molecular biology and role in human health. Massachusetts: MA Norwel: Kluver. 2001:157–178.
  5. Maiorino M , Wissing JB , Brigelius-Flohè R , Calabrese F , Roveri A , Steinert P , et al.  Testosterone mediates expression of the selenoprotein PHGPx by induction of spermatogenesis and not by direct transcriptional gene activation . FASEB J . 1998;12:1359–1370
  6. Roveri A , Flohè L , Maiorino M , Ursini F . Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase in sperm . Methods Enzymol . 2002;347:208–212
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  10. Enomoto A , Wempe MF , Tsuchida H , Shin HJ , Cha SH , Anzai N , et al.  Molecular identification of a novel carnitine transporter specific to human testis (Insights into the mechanism of carnitine recognition) . J Biol Chem . 2002;277:36262–36271
  11. Xuan W , Lamhonwah AM , Librach C , Jarvi K , Tein I . Characterization of organic cation/carnitine transporter family in human sperm . Biochem Biophis Res Commun . 2003;306(1):121–128
  12. Brevetti G , Di Lisa F , Perna S , Menabo R , Barbato R , Martone VD , et al.  Carnitine-related alterations in patients with intermittent claudication: indication for a focused carnitine therapy . Circulation . 1996;93:1685–1689
  13. Wang Y , Ye J , Ganapathy V , Longo N . Mutations in the organic cation/carnitine transporter OCTN2 in primary carnitine deficiency . Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A . 1999;96:2356–2360
  14. Ogawa A , Yamamoto S , Kanazawa M , Takayanagy M , Hasegawa S , Kohno Y . Identification of two novel mutations of the carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) gene in a patient with CACT deficiency . J Hum Genet . 2000;45:52–55
  15. Lenzi A , Lombardo F , Sgro P , Salacone P , Caponecchia L , Dondero F , et al.  Use of carnitine therapy in selected cases of male factor infertility a double blind crossover trial . Fertil Steril . 2003;79:292–300
  16. Jeulin C , Lewin LM . Role of free L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine in post-gonadal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa . Hum Reprod Update . 1996;2:87–102
  17. Zopfgen A , Priem F , Sudhoff F , Jung K , Lenk S , Loening SA , et al.  Relationship between semen quality and the seminal plasma components carnitine, alpha-glucosidase, fructose, citrate and granulocyte elastase in infertile men compared with a normal population . Hum Reprod . 2000;15:840–845
  18. Ruiz-Pesini E , Alvarez E , Enriquez JA , Lopez-Perez MJ . Association between seminal plasma carnitine and sperm mitochondrial enzymatic activities . Int J Androl . 2001;24:335–340
  19. World Health Organization . Laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and sperm-cervical mucus interaction . New York: Cambridge University Press; 1999;
  20. Lenzi A , Picardo M , Gandini L , Lombardo F , Terminali O , Passi S , et al.  Glutathione treatment of dyspermia: effect on the lipoperoxidation process . Hum Reprod . 1994;9:2044–2050
  21. Furono T , Kanno T , Arita K , Asami M , Utsumi T , Doi Y , et al.  Roles of long chain fatty acids and carnitine in mitochondrial membrane permeability transition . Biochem Pharmacol . 2001;62:1037–1046
  22. Kashiwagi A , Kanno T , Arita K , Ishisaka R , Utsumi T , Utsumi K . Suppression of T(3)- and fatty acid-induced membrane permeability transition by L-carnitine . Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol . 2001;130:411–418
  23. Brooks DE . Carnitine in the male reproductive tract and its relation to the metabolism of the epididymis and spermatozoa. In: Frankel RA, McGary JD, eds. Carnitine biosynthesis, metabolism and functions . New York: Academic Press; 1980; 219
  24. Donnelly ET , O'Connell M , McClure N , Lewis SE . Differences in nuclear DNA and fragmentation and mitochondrial integrity of semen and prepared human spermatozoa . Hum Reprod . 2000;15:1552–1561
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 Supported by the Italian Ministry of University (F.U. and C.F.).

PII: S0015-0282(04)02839-0

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.10.010

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 83, Issue 2 , Pages 355-361 , February 2005

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