Protective effects of in vitro supplementation of ascorbic acid on plasma membrane, acrosomal membrane and mitochondrial activity index of human spermatozoa

Spermatozoa were the first type of cells reported to produce free radicals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated damage to sperm is a significant contributing factor to male infertility. Impaired motility, impaired fertilization and oxidative DNA damage are three inter-related mechanisms that account for oxidative stress mediated male infertility. Spermatozoa lack cytoplasmic antioxidant defense due to exclusion of cytoplasm and therefore rely upon antioxidants present in the seminal plasma. Centrifugation of a semen sample prior to its use for intra-uterine insemination (ICI) and in vitro Fertilization (IVF) induce oxidative stress. Therefore there is need to supplement the semen with antioxidants. In the present investigation attempts were made to study the effects of in vitro supplementation of non-enzymatic antioxidant ascorbic acid on sperm plasma membrane integrity, acrosome intactness and mitochondrial activity index. There was highly significant (p<0.001) improvement in these parameters that relate to healthy state of the spermatozoa.