Mitochondrial spermatopathy

Abstract

Several pathobiochemical mechanisms are involved in male infertility and many of them are still unknown. It has been documented that decreased sperm motility and semen quality, impairment of balance between reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production and reduced total antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial DNA defects, disturbances of sperm mitochondrial function and energy production participate in male infertility. Supplementation with antioxidants as vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, carnitine, coenzyme Q 10 may have beneficial effects in treating male infertility. © 2008 Springer Netherlands.