Abstract

Oxidative stress contributes importantly to the aetiology of male infertility, impairing sperm function. The protective effect of antioxidants on seminal parameters has been established, and the antioxidant penicillamine has shown beneficial effects; however, its protective effect on human spermatozoa exposed to oxidative stress has not been reported. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of penicillamine on human spermatozoa exposed in vitro to oxidative stress. First, the effect of penicillamine on spermatozoa from normozoospermic donors was evaluated. Then, the effect of penicillamine on spermatozoa exposed to oxidative stress induced separately by ionomycin and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was analysed. An untreated control and a control treated only with the oxidative stress inducer were included. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and motility were analysed. The results showed that penicillamine, added to the incubation medium, decreased the ROS levels induced by ionomycin and H2O2, and this effect was associated with better preservation of MMP, motility, and ATP levels. These results highlight the potential advantages of penicillamine supplementation of sperm culture medium, especially for semen samples with high ROS levels and also in circumstances where laboratory handling can cause an increase in ROS production.