The aim of this study was to observe sperm aneuploidy, DNA integrity, seminal alpha-glucosidase (NAG) and acrosin activity (AA) under testicular heat stress (SH). Spermatozoa were obtained from 30 healthy adult volunteers subjected to scrotal warming at 43°C for 30-40 min on two successive days per week for 3 months between February 2012 and September 2016. Aniline blue (AB), acridine orange (AO) staining, TUNEL assay and FISH analysis to evaluate sperm function, sperm DNA integrity and chromosomal abnormalities were carried on before, during and after SH. Sperm AA and NAG was measured by microplate reader. The mean parameters of sperm parameters, AA and NAG were significantly decreased. In contrast, the mean percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation and the proportion of aneuploidy of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y were significantly increased for spermatozoa collected during SH versus before SH (p < .01-.001). After stopping scrotal heating for 3 months, most parameters were completely restored to pre-SH levels. Sperm parameters, sperm DNA integrity, chromosomes, AA and NAG are affected by scrotal exposure to constant SH temperatures several degrees over normal physiological temperature, and after treatment, these parameters were reversibly restored to the level before SH in adult men.
Keywords: acrosin activity; alpha-glucosidase; fluorescence in situ hybridisation; scrotal heating; sperm chromosomes.
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