Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery Volume 38, Number 4, 2020 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Pp. 222–231 DOI: 10.1089/photob.2019.4773
Photobiomodulation with 810 nm Wavelengths Improves Human Sperms’ Motility and Viability In Vitro
Fereshteh Safian, MSc,1 Marefat Ghaffari Novin, MD, PhD,2 Maryam Karimi, MSc,3 Mahsa Kazemi, PhD,2 Fateme Zare, MSc,2 Seyed Kamran Ghoreishi, PhD,4 and Mohammad Bayat, PhD2,5
Abstract
Background: Enhanced sperm motility is necessary for the successful journey of sperm inside the female genital tract, successful fertilization, and the increased chance of pregnancy.
Objective: We investigated the impact of red and near-infrared (NIR) ranges of photobiomodulation (PBM) alone and together on fresh human sperm to validate an optimized PBM protocol that would maximize sperm motility and viability in vitro.
Methods: We randomly divided 30 normal human semen samples into 3 different PBM protocols (red, NIR, and red+NIR lasers). Each sample was divided into four subparts, one control group sample and three experimental group samples. Each experimental group received one of the PBM protocols (red, NIR, or red+NIR). Each protocol was adjusted to three energy densities (0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 J/cm2 ). After exposure to the selected protocol, we determined the percentage of either viable or progressive sperm motility (PSM) and measured the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI).
Results: The NIR and red+NIR lasers at 2.4 J/cm2 energy density significantly increased PSM after 60 min compared with the control groups [least significant difference (LSD) test, p = 0.023 and p = 0.04, respectively]. Samples treated with the red laser at 0.6 J/cm2 had significantly decreased viability compared with the control group (LSD test, p = 0.003). Samples treated with the red+NIR lasers had significantly decreased viability at 0.6 J/cm2 ( p = 0.003), 1.2 J/cm2 ( p = 0.001), and 2.4 J/cm2 ( p = 0.04) energy densities when compared with the control groups. The NIR laser resulted in no significant difference in sperm viability between the control and experimental groups. At 120 min after exposure, treatment with the red+NIR and red lasers at 2.4 J/cm2 density significantly increased DFI compared to the control groups (LSD test, p = 0.000, p = 0.007).
Conclusions: In this study, sperm motility, viability, and DFI data confirmed the superiority of the NIR laser at 0.6 J/cm2 energy density compared with the red and red+NIR PBM protocols.
Keywords: semen analysis, photobiomodulation, sperm motility, sperm viability
Taha MF; Valojerdi MR
Lasers in surgery and medicine; VOL: 34 (4); p. 352-9 /2004/
Department of Anatomy, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, P.O. Box 14115-111, Tehran, Iran.
Background and Objectives: Low level laser radiation stimulates both nucleic acid synthesis and cellular proliferation in E. coli, Hela tumor cells, fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and thyroid cells. It has been introduced as a therapeutic modality; nevertheless few studies have been carried out to determine the effects of laser radiation on the testes or spermatogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative and qualitative changes of the seminiferous epithelium after Ga. Al. As. (830 nm) laser radiation.
Methods: The left testes of Sprague-Dawley rats were daily exposed to laser light for 15 days; so the cumulative doses used 28.05 and 46.80 J/cm(2) in two experimental groups. Sampling carried out 24 hours after the last treatment and samples were processed for LM and TEM study.
Results: The number of germ cells specially the pachytene spermatocytes and elongated spermatids increased after 28.05 J/cm(2) laser radiation. Ultrastructural features of germ and Sertoli cells in this group were similar to that of control; while laser irradiation at 46.80 J/cm(2) had a destructive effect on the seminiferous epithelium such as dissociation of immature spermatids and evident ultrastructural changes in them.
Conclusion: The findings confirmed the existence of a biostimulatory threshold of applied laser energy and the importance of determining it for clinical applications. Moreover, it was revealed that low doses of laser light have a biostimulatory effect on the spermatogenesis and may provide benefits to the patients with oligospermia and azoospermia.
Lasers Med Sci. 2013 Feb 14.
Effect of 830-nm diode laser irradiation on human sperm motility.Salman Yazdi R, Bakhshi S, Jannat Alipoor F, Akhoond MR, Borhani S, Farrahi F, Lotfi Panah M, Sadighi Gilani MA.
Department of Andrology at Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran,
Abstract: Sperm motility is known as an effective parameter in male fertility, and it depends on energy consumption. Low-level laser irradiation could increase energy supply to the cell by producing adenosine triphosphate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how the low-level laser irradiation affects the human sperm motility. Fresh human semen specimens of asthenospermic patients were divided into four equal portions and irradiated by 830-nm GaAlAs laser irradiation with varying doses as: 0 (control), 4, 6 and 10 J/cm(2). At the times of 0, 30, 45 and 60 min following irradiation, sperm motilities are assessed by means of computer-aided sperm analysis in all samples. Two additional tests [HOS and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) tests] were also performed on the control and high irradiated groups as well. Sperm motility of the control groups significantly decreased after 30, 45 and 60 min of irradiation, while those of irradiated groups remained constant or slightly increased by passing of time. Significant increases have been observed in doses of 4 and 6 J/cm(2) at the times of 60 and 45 min, respectively. SCD test also revealed a non-significant difference. Our results showed that irradiating human sperms with low-level 830-nm diode laser can improve their progressive motility depending on both laser density and post-exposure time.
J Androl. 2011 Jul 14
The Effects of Low-Level Laser Light Exposure on Sperm Motion Characteristics and DNA Damage.Firestone R, Esfandiari N, Moskovtsev SI, Burstein E, Videna GT, Librach C, Bentov Y, Casper RF.
Objectives: To determine the effects of low-level laser light exposure on the motility of spermatozoa and on DNA damage.
Methods: Thirty-three semen samples were collected for routine analysis and were classified as normospermic, oligospermic, or asthenospermic. After routine semen analysis was performed residual semen was divided into treated and control aliquots. Treated samples were exposed to a 30 second infrared laser pulse of 50 mW/cm(2) at 905 nm, a wavelength thought to increase light sensitive cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Samples were then incubated at 37�°C and aliquots analyzed at 30 minutes and 2 hours using Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA). After incubation, 250 �µL of each sample was frozen at -80�°C until DNA fragmentation analysis by flow cytometry.
Results: A significant increase in motility, most prominent in oligospermic and asthenospermic samples (85% increase), was observed 30 minutes after the treatment (p<0.0001). No significant increase in DNA damage compared to control samples was observed. Significant changes in sperm motion kinetics were observed.
Conclusion: Low-level laser light exposure appears to have a positive short-term effect on the motility of the treated spermatozoa and did not cause any increase in DNA damage measured at 2 hours. We conclude that some cases of asthenospermia may be related to mitochondrial dysfunction. The implications of this study in terms of future clinical applications needs further investigation.
Lasers Med Sci. 2009 Sep;24(5):703-13.
The effect of low-level laser irradiation on dog spermatozoa motility is dependent on laser output power.Corral-Baquas MI, Rivera MM, Rigau T, Rodriguez-Gil JE, Rigau J.
Post-Degree Laser Medical Study, Rovira i Virgili University, Reus, Spain.
Abstract: Biological tissues respond to low-level laser irradiation and so do dog spermatozoa. Among the main parameters to be considered when a biological tissue is irradiated is the output power. We have studied the effects on sperm motility of 655 nm continuous wave diode laser irradiation at different output powers with 3.34 J (5.97 J/cm(2)). The second fraction of fresh dog sperm was divided into five groups: control, and four to be irradiated with an average output power of 6.8 mW, 15.4 mW, 33.1 mW and 49.7 mW, respectively. At 0 min and 45 min after irradiation, pictures were taken and a computer aided sperm analysis (CASA) performed to analyse different motility parameters. The results showed that different output powers affected dog semen motility parameters differently. The highest output power showed the most intense effects. Significant changes in the structure of the motile sperm subpopulation were linked to the different output powers used.
Lasers Med Sci. 2005;20(1):28-34.
Effect of 655-nm diode laser on dog sperm motility.Corral-BaquÃ�©s MI, Rigau T, Rivera M, RodrÃ�Âguez JE, Rigau J.
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rovira i Virgili University, Reus, Spain.
Abstract: Sperm motility depends on energy consumption. Low-level laser irradiation increases adenosin triphosphate (ATP) production and energy supply to the cell. The aim of this study is to analyse whether the irradiation affects the parameters that characterise dog sperm motility. Fresh dog sperm samples were divided into four groups and irradiated with a 655-nm continuous-wave diode laser with varying doses: 0 (control), 4, 6 and 10 J/cm(2). At 0, 15 and 45 min following irradiation, pictures were taken of all the groups in order to study motility with computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). Functional tests were also performed. Average path velocity (VAP), linear coefficient (Lin) and beat cross frequency (BCF) were statistically and significantly different when compared to the control. The functional tests also showed a significant difference. At these parameters, the 655-nm continuous-wave diode laser improves the speed and linear coefficient of the sperm.
Urologiia. 2003 Mar-Apr;(2):23-5.
Etiopathogenetic basis for using magnetolaser therapy in the complex treatment of male infertility.Iurshin VV, Sergienko NF, Illarionov VE.
Abstract: Up to 12-15% couples are infertile. The �responsibility� for infertility rests with the husband in 40-45% cases. The effects of routine drug therapy (n = 95) on a generative function are compared to those of magnetolaser therapy (n = 93) in 188 males with excretory-inflammatory infertility suffering from chronic prostatitis. Low-intensity laser infra-red radiation was used in a permanent magnetic field produced by Azor-2K unit. The magnetolaser therapy more significantly than the routine therapy raised concentration and number of mobile forms of the spermia, reduced their degenerative forms, elevated the level of serum sexual and gonadotropic hormones. In 1 year pregnancy occurred in 41.7 and 55.4% of 83 and 87 families (groups 1 and 2), respectively. The delivery took place in 35.8 and 49.7%, respectively.
February 2013
Etiopathogenetic basis for using magnetolaser therapy in the complex treatment of male infertility.Reza Salman Yazdi, Simin Bakhshi, Firooz Jannat Alipoor, Mohammad Reza Akhoond, Soheila Borhani, Faramarz Farrahi, Mehdi Lotfi Panah, Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani
Abstract: Sperm motility is known as an effective parameter in male fertility, and it depends on energy consumption. Low-level laser irradiation could increase energy supply to the cell by producing adenosine triphosphate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how the low-level laser irradiation affects the human sperm motility. Fresh human semen specimens of asthenospermic patients were divided into four equal portions and irradiated by 830-nm GaAlAs laser irradiation with varying doses as: 0 (control), 4, 6 and 10 J/cm2. At the times of 0, 30, 45 and 60 min following irradiation, sperm motilities are assessed by means of computer-aided sperm analysis in all samples. Two additional tests [HOS and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) tests] were also performed on the control and high irradiated groups as well. Sperm motility of the control groups significantly decreased after 30, 45 and 60 min of irradiation, while those of irradiated groups remained constant or slightly increased by passing of time. Significant increases have been observed in doses of 4 and 6 J/cm2 at the times of 60 and 45 min, respectively. SCD test also revealed a non-significant difference. Our results showed that irradiating human sperms with low-level 830-nm diode laser can improve their progressive motility depending on both laser density and post-exposure time.
July 2005, Volume 20, Issue 1, pp 28-34
Effect of 655-nm diode laser on dog sperm motilityM. I. Corral-BaquÃ�©s, T. Rigau, M. Rivera, J. E. RodrÃ�Âguez, J. Rigau
Abstract: Sperm motility depends on energy consumption. Low-level laser irradiation increases adenosin triphosphate (ATP) production and energy supply to the cell. The aim of this study is to analyse whether the irradiation affects the parameters that characterise dog sperm motility. Fresh dog sperm samples were divided into four groups and irradiated with a 655-nm continuous-wave diode laser with varying doses: 0 (control), 4, 6 and 10 J/cm2. At 0, 15 and 45 min following irradiation, pictures were taken of all the groups in order to study motility with computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). Functional tests were also performed. Average path velocity (VAP), linear coefficient (Lin) and beat cross frequency (BCF) were statistically and significantly different when compared to the control. The functional tests also showed a significant difference. At these parameters, the 655-nm continuous-wave diode laser improves the speed and linear coefficient of the sperm.
December 05, 2008
Laser Therapy May Improve FertilityLow-level laser therapy appears to improve sperm motility parameters in a dose-dependent manner.
SAN FRANCISCO�Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may perk up sperm and improve fertility rates, according to a newly released study.
Laser treatment of prepared substandard sperm prior to intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may yield improved assisted reproductive technology results, Australian researchers reported here at the annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. In addition, laser therapy may be beneficial for in vivo direct testicular treatment of men with substandard semen.
There is considerable published literature detailing the photobiomodulation effects on human tissue of LLLT from both laser and light-emitting diode (LED) sources at wavelengths from 630 to 1,000 nm. Few data exist regarding their effect on spermatozoa, however.
LLLT has been shown to help temporarily improve canine sperm motility, increase calcium transport within murine spermatozoa, and increase the longevity of motility in previously frozen turkey sperm. To investigate the effect of LLLT on human sperm, Australian researchers conducted a prospective observational study on normospermic and asthenospermic semen specimens.
Four human semen specimens were subjected to LLLT from two continuous-output sources at varying distances. The researchers compared the sperm motility index (SMI) and total functional sperm count (TFSC) parameters across a range of calculated light doses from each source. Two experiments were conducted utilizing fresh normal and fresh asthenospermic semen specimens.
Compared with controls, SMI and TFSC in light-exposed samples were increased up to fourfold for normal semen and sevenfold for asthenospermic semen, with an inhibitory effect at higher doses. Maximum effect and timing post-exposure varied with the light source. The maximum effect on normal semen was achieved at 30 minutes post-exposure for the lowest dose of the LED cluster and at 15 minutes post-exposure to the intermediate doses for the laser diode.
For the asthenospermic semen, the maximum effect came from the mid-range doses at 30 minutes post-exposure for the LED cluster and from the lowest laser dose at 30 minutes post-exposure. There was no apparent effect of LLLT on sperm DNA integrity.
The improvement in sperm motility is largely [attributed] to a freeing up of chemical pathways within the sperm or within the cells, [resulting in a release of] energy from the mitochondria and just causing them to do their job better and quicker,� said study investigator Keith Harrison, PhD, scientific director of Queensland Fertility Group, in Brisbane.
LLLT appears to improve sperm motility parameters in a dose-dependent manner, he said. The effect may be at the expense of motility longevity, however. Laser and LED light appear to yield similar effects.
It may be possible to treat men with marginal sperm and allow couples to avoid IVF and just go to the simpler procedures, such as intrauterine insemination, Dr. Harrison told Renal & Urology News. We may have a new mechanism and process to treat men whose testes produce substandard sperm. We hope to shine a bright red light on the testes and stimulate production or [improve the quality] of sperm.
