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Protein expression/activity of antioxidative defense enzymes (AD) in seminal plasma of fertile men might be used as biomarkers of male fertility status. To test this concept, the present study examined the semen parameters of males among 14 normal idiopathic (normozoospermia) and 84 subnormal (teratozoospermia, oligoteratozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia) infertile individuals\. We investigated levels of protein expression/activity of Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), their association with functional sperm parameters, as well as their potential to serve as biomarkers of specific sperm pathologies. Although the activity of CuZnSOD and protein expression of catalase were significantly correlated with several sperm parameters, underlying their potential role in etiology of various sperm abnormalities, investigation of their potential usefulness as a biomarker of semen quality showed that these AD enzymes could not distinguish subtle differences between various sperm pathologies. In contrast, GSH-Px activity was decreased in all groups with sperm pathologies and was a very good indicator of aberrations in functional sperm parameters, explaining up to 94.6% of infertility cases where functional sperm parameters were affected. Therefore, assessment of GSH-Px activity showed the potential to discriminate between infertile males with normal and subnormal semen characteristics and may prove useful in the evaluation of male (in)fertility. Abbreviations: AD: antioxidative defense; Cu, Zn SOD: copper, zinc superoxide dismutase; GSH-Px: glutathione peroxidase; MnSOD: manganese superoxide dismutase; NS: normospermia; OATS: oligoasthenoteratozoospermia; OTS: oligoteratozoospermia; ROC: receiver operating characteristic; ROS: reactive oxygen species; TS: teratozoospermia; WHO: world health organization

Important factor related to the conception possibility is women age. The decline in fertility with aging is proven and evident in literature. Infertility is increasing and many couples seek help in advanced techniques such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) in order to overcome the problem caused by aging, but the quality of the oocytes is a significant limiting factor. With the aging the quantity and quality of oocytes decreases, such as the quality of the embryo after fertilization. The accelerated rhythm of life, liberty and women inclusion in all kinds of professions brought many benefits to women, but also increasingly postponing births. Each person is unique individual, and can be more or less fertile compared to the average at same age. Unfortunately, some women has a rapid decline in fertility - accelerate aging, very early, already in the early twenties and when testing them with different methods and exams, the result is very low number of oocytes, low value of anti-Müllerian hormone and also very poor quality of these oocytes, or low ovarian reserve. The problem is that when you have accelerate aging, even IVF techniques can not be of great help in achieving pregnancy. The pregnancy rate (17,65%) and the childbirth rate (5,88%) with the patients older than 40 is very low, although comparable to the data from the scientific literature and speaks in favour of the fact that the success of assisted reproductive techniques is very modest with women older than 44.

Background/aims Obese and overweight women experience a lower probability for pregnancy after IVF. However, despite the increasing prevalence of obesity, the large majority of infertile women are non-obese. One of the most common indications for IVF is endometriosis. Thought-provoking inverse correlation has been established between BMI and endometriosis. Lower BMI is a risk factor for development of endometriosis and a predictive factor for severe endometriosis. Since severe endometriosis carries lower reproductive chances, even after IVF, we preliminary tested a hypothesis that higher BMI among non-obese endometriosis patients improves IVF outcomes. Methods Preliminary retrospective observational cross-sectional study was performed in women with endometriosis as a sole infertility cause who underwent IVF. During analyzed period we performed 2782 IVF procedures. In order to achieve highly homogenous study sample and to eliminate almost all confound factors that could lead to bias, we implemented strict study criteria. The number of eligible subjects was 156 and they were divided into underweight, normal weight and overweight groups. Primary outcomes were number of retrieved oocytes, good quality oocytes, embryos, and the rates of biochemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancies. For group comparisons, we used parametric test, analysis of variance, and non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square test). Logistic regression and General linear model was used to assess correlation between BMI and dependent variables (outcome and stimulation duration) when adjusted for age. Results Endometriosis as a single infertility factor among IVF couples had prevalence of 5.61%. Underweight women accounted for 10.26%, normal weight 71.15% and overweight 18.59% of study population. Significant differences were not found in number of retrieved oocytes (p = 0.880), good quality oocytes (p = 0.476), obtained embryos (p = 0.706), and biochemical (p = 0.298), clinical (p = 0.770) and ongoing (p = 0.822) pregnancy rates between study groups. Conclusion Although preliminary results do not support our hypothesis, increase in BMI did not adversely affect the outcome of IVF in non-obese endometriosis patients, which is in contrast to literature data as regards general population of infertile women undergoing IVF. Prospective studies with large number of patients with endometriosis or prospective case-control studies should address these issues and provide more comprehensive counseling of infertile endometriosis patients regarding achievement of optimal BMI prior to IVF with the intention of achievement higher pregnancy rates.

The aim of this study was genotyping and identification of collection of 164 Bacillus spp. isolates, from samples of soil, manure, and straw gathered from across Serbia, using Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) combined with sequencing of tuf gene, one of the housekeeping genes. The PFGE analysis with NotI enzyme was used to determine phylogenetic relationships of isolates and referent strains. Four large groups of Bacillus spp. were distinguishable: cereus, subtilis, pumilus and megaterium and within enormous genetic diversity. Bacillus subtilis Marburg referent strain did not group with rest of the strains from the subtilis group (Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633 and Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC9372). Strains from the cereus group were distinguished and closely grouped together. One representative isolate from each of 21 distinct PFGE groups was identified by sequencing of tuf gene. Eight different species were identified among chosen isolates: B. amyloliquefaciens, B. subtilis, B. pumilus, B. safensis, B. megaterium, B. cereus, B. anthracis and B. thuringiensis. Our results showed that PFGE analysis combined with sequencing of one of the housekeeping genes could be used for characterization of large collections of Bacillus isolates. The determination of tuf gene recommended itself to be an adequate and sufficient analysis for obtaining very clear and unambiguous results, with high resolution of separation of Bacillus species. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 173026]

Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule responsible for initiation of molecular events that influence sperm functionality in a concentration-dependent manner. It is still not fully understood how seminal plasma NO contributes to sperm pathologies. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether and how NO is implicated in etiology of different sperm abnormalities. To this end we determine NO, nitrite and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) content in seminal plasma of infertile men with specific pathologies (terato-, oligoterato- and oligoasthenoteratospermia) and relate it to infertile normospermic samples. To gain further understanding of NO metabolism in seminal plasma we determine protein expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Here we show that NO, nitrite and 3-NT levels in seminal plasma of men with suboptimal semen parameters are significantly lower compared to normospermic men. An increase in protein expression of eNOS and no change in protein expression of iNOS is observed in men with sperm pathologies. Association of seminal plasma 3-NT level with functional sperm parameters is observed - positive correlation with sperm count, motility and morphology in normospermia, teratospermia and oligoteratospermia, as well as negative correlation with sperm morphology and motility in oligoasthenoteratospermia. Present study revealed that suboptimal seminal plasma NO content is found in all examined sperm pathologies. This result unequivocally shows the importance of NO for sperm function and involvement of suboptimal NO level in etiology of sperm abnormalities. Lower seminal plasma 3-NT level and its significant association with sperm parameters, found in pathologies, strongly indicates that protein nitration is important for spermatozoa function and that failure to establish this post-translational protein modification might be involved in etiology of sperm abnormalities. According to our results, NO measurement can discriminate infertile men with sperm pathologies from infertile normospermic men but is not indicative of a specific type of sperm pathology.

Objective Although there are substantial data linking thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) and infertility, data regarding assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes and TAI markers in follicular fluid (FF) of women undergoing ART are scarce. Objective of the study was to assess the association of the levels of thyroid autoantibodies in FF and ART outcome expressed as the achieved pregnancies. Methods This study enrolled 52 women undergoing ART (26 TAI positive subjects and 26 age and body mass index matched TAI negative controls). Blood samples were drawn before the initiation of protocol for controlled ovarian stimulation, and thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs) levels were measured. TSH, fT4, TPOAbs, TgAbs and progesterone levels were also measured in FF. Results There were no significant differences between the groups regarding mean levels of FF TSH and FF fT4. Statistically significant correlation was discovered regarding the levels of serum and FF TPOAbs (0,961, p

Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mid-trimester ultrasound fetal liver length (FLL) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a high-risk population. Methods A prospective study was performed in 331 women with singleton pregnancies who were at high risk of GDM and were undergoing a mid-trimester ultrasound examination. The ultrasound scan at 23 weeks gestation was followed by a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24 weeks gestation. Correlations between FLL and OGTT results at different time points were tested. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of FLL as a potential prognostic factor for GDM was also performed. Results In GDM patients, there was a significant positive correlation (P

Introduction. Chlamydia trachomatis infections are the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections recognized throughout the world. In the last few years, several studies have indicated that predisposition of C. trachomatis to persist within the host cell is recognized as a major factor in the pathogenesis of chlamydial infection. During persistent chlamydial infection, the stress protein hsp60 is synthesized continually as immunopathologic antigen. Antibodies to hsp60 are found in women with tubal occlusion, but these antibodies are not detected in women with the acute C. trachomatis infection, which indicates that hsp60 has an important role in pathogenesis of persistant chlamydial infection. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the role of chlamydial stress proteins (heat shock proteins) in pathogenesis of ectopic pregnancy. Methods. The study included 40 women with ectopic pregnancy (experimental group) and 34 women with normal pregnancy (control group). C. trachomatis was detected in endocervical smears by direct immunofluorescence test, while specific antibodies against Chlamydia spp. and against hsp60 were detected by ELISA. Results. DIF method detected the presence of C. trachomatis in 12.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 17.6% of women with normal pregnancy. IgG antibodies against Chlamydia spp. were found in 57.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 26.5% of women with normal pregnancy. IgA antibodies were positive in 37.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 2.9% of women with normal pregnancy. IgG antibodies against hsp60 were positive in 37.5% of women with the ectopic pregnancy and 14.7% of women with normal pregnancy. Conclusion. The results of this study have proven the correlation between the ectopic pregnancy and the presence of IgG antibodies to chlamydial hsp60.

The 50-gram non-fasting one hour Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) is today the one most widely implemented as a screening test for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Positive result of GCT creates a preliminary GDM diagnosis. Diagnosis of GDM labels a pregnancy high risk. Any high risk pregnancy can cause maternal anxiety. The aim of the study was to investigate pretest and posttest anxiety levels in pregnant women undergoing GCT. Anxiety levels were evaluated by Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAMA score). Pretest HAMA score was 7.1±3.34 in the women with preliminary GDM diagnosis, and 6.69±5.51 in the women with negative GCT results. After delivering GCT results, HAMA score was 8.64 ± 8.10 in the women with preliminary GDM diagnosis and 4.29±2.29 in the women without preliminary GDM diagnosis. Pretest levels of anxiety among all pregnant women undergoing GCT were increased. However, this was temporary in women with negative GCT, whose anxiety levels decreased after delivering GCT results. Among women preliminary diagnosed with GDM, posttest HAMA evaluation revealed sustained increased levels of anxiety. Concerns regarding the anxiety caused by screening for GDM were confirmed by the results of our study.

Bacterial vaginosis is a common, complex clinical syndrome characterized by alterations in the normal vaginal flora. When symptomatic, it is associated with a malodorous vaginal discharge and on occasion vaginal burning or itching. Under normal conditions, lactobacilli constitute 95% of the bacteria in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis is associated with severe reduction or absence of the normal H2O2?producing lactobacilli and overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Mycoplasma hominis and Mobiluncus species. Most types of infectious disease are diagnosed by culture, by isolating an antigen or RNA/DNA from the microbe, or by serodiagnosis to determine the presence of antibodies to the microbe. Therefore, demonstration of the presence of an infectious agent is often a necessary criterion for the diagnosis of the disease. This is not the case for bacterial vaginosis, since the ultimate cause of the disease is not yet known. There are a variety of methods for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis but no method can at present be regarded as the best. Diagnosing bacterial vaginosis has long been based on the clinical criteria of Amsel, whereby three of four defined criteria must be satisfied. Nugent?s scoring system has been further developed and includes validation of the categories of observable bacteria structures. Up?to?date molecular tests are introduced, and better understanding of vaginal microbiome, a clear definition for bacterial vaginosis, and short?term and long?term fluctuations in vaginal microflora will help to better define molecular tests within the broader clinical context.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease is crucial to optimal obstetric and neonatal care. In utero identification of heart anomalies allows a variety of treatment options to be considered, including delivery at an appropriate facility, termination of pregnancy, and in some cases in utero therapy. specific indications and risks have been classified and pati ents considered at high risk have been offered detailed fetal echocardiography, commonly at a center with appropriate expertise and facilities. However, most children are born to mothers who have no known risk features during pregnancy. screening in the low-risk population has been reported to have lower accuracy rates then in high-risk population. The most common indication for performing a fetal echocardiogram is a prior family history of congenital heart disease. a number of drugs have been implicated as causes of various malformations, including heart anomalies. Therefore, their use during pregnancy is considered as indication for echocardiography. several mater nal conditions also carry an inherited risk to the fetus and their presence is also indication for this diagnostic procedure. The incidence of congenital heart disease is increased fivefold among infants of diabetic mothers, whereas phenylketonuria has reported risk of 12 to 16%. Chromosomal anomalies, extracardi ac malformations and monozigotic twins are also indications for fetal echocardiography.

Background/Aim. A modern approach to surgical treatment of tuboperitoneal infertility is based on laporascopic techniques. The aim of this study was to compare results of tuboperitoneal infertility treatment by the use of laparoscopy and classical laparotomy. Methods. A retrospectiveprospective study on 66 women treated operatively form tuboperitoneal infertility was performed. Data from patient's anamnesis and those related to the surgical treatment results, obtained by the use of an inquiry, were used in retrospective and prospective analysis, respectively. Chi-square test was used in statistical analysis. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results. Classical laparotomy was used on 34 women in a period from 1996 to 1997, while 32 women were operated laparoscopically in a period from 1999 to 2000. The results were as follows: a total number of conceived women was 16 (24%), seven in the group I (20.6%) and nine in the group II (28.1%); 13 women were with one pregnancy, six in the group I (17.6%) and seven in the group II (22%). Twice pregnant were three women, one in the group I (2.9%) and two in the group II (6.2%). The resulting pregnancies were: five women with abortion spontaneous, two in the group I (5.9%) and three in the group II (9.4%); two women with extrauterine pregnancy in the group I (5.9%); three with pretemporal birth, one in the group I (2.9%) and two in the group II (6.2%), while six women were with the temporal birth, two in the group I (5.9%) and four in the group II (12.5%). Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the results between these two groups. Conclusion. Surgical treatment of tubeperitoneal infertility, regardless of the used methods (classical laparotomy or laparoscopy) was successful in a great number of women. These methods have a great advantage over in vitro fertilization, and they should not be ignored.

Background Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Listeria monocytogenes have important roles in pathogenesis of various genital tract infections and fatal foetomaternal infections, respectively. The aim of our study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of two novel bacteriocins on biofilms of CoNS and L. monocytogenes genital isolates. Methods The effects of licheniocin 50.2 from Bacillus licheniformis VPS50.2 and crude extract of bacteriocins produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis BGBU1-4 (BGBU1-4 crude extract) were evaluated on biofilm formation and formed biofilms of eight CoNS (four S. epidermidis, two S. hominis, one S. lugdunensis and one S. haemolyticus) and 12 L. monocytogenes genital isolates. Results Licheniocin 50.2 and BGBU1-4 crude extract inhibited the growth of both CoNS and L. monocytogenes isolates, with MIC values in the range between 200–400 AU/ml for licheniocin 50.2 and 400–3200 AU/ml for BGBU1-4 crude extract. Subinhibitory concentrations (1/2 × and 1/4 × MIC) of licheniocin 50.2 inhibited biofilm formation by all CoNS isolates (p < 0.05, respectively), while BGBU1-4 crude extract inhibited biofilm formation by all L. monocytogenes isolates (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Both bacteriocins in concentrations of 100 AU/mL and 200 AU/mL reduced the amount of 24 h old CoNS and L. monocytogenes biofilms (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001). Conclusions This study suggests that novel bacteriocins have potential to be used for genital application, to prevent biofilm formation and/or to eradicate formed biofilms, and consequently reduce genital and neonatal infections by CoNS and L. monocytogenes.

Study objective was to test the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and fetal abdominal subcutaneous fat tissue (ASCT) measured by ultrasound. The total number of pregnant women enrolled in the prospective study was 280. For all participants BMI was determined. Study participants underwent ultrasound exam at 32nd week of gestation and ASCT was measured. Positive correlation has been found between ASCT and maternal BMI (p

The aim of this study was to explore the antimicrobial activity of human follicular fluid (HFF), to test the hypothesis that different strains of the same bacterial species could display different patterns of susceptibility to antimicrobial action of HFF, and to preliminarily investigate the possible mechanism of antimicrobial action of this fluid. Antimicrobial activity of 60 samples of HFF toward 30 Streptococcus agalactiae strains was determined by the agar diffusion method and broth dilution method. To explore the mechanism of antimicrobial activity, biochemical analyses were performed with selected fluid samples. The obtained results indicate that 38.3% fluid samples did not inhibit bacterial growth, 53.3% showed moderate and 8.3% high antimicrobial activity. The tested effect of HFF on S. agalactiae strains was bactericidal and was not strain dependent. Lysozyme activity was detected in HFF exhibiting antimicrobial activity. There were no statistically significant differences in concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, transferrin, iron, total protein and albumin levels among tested samples regardless of the different rate of antimicrobial activity. The obtained results indicate that lysozyme is most probably a crucial antibacterial agent in this fluid; however, some other still unidentified factors may contribute to it.

Background. Semen analysis is the cornerstone in the evaluation of male (in) fertility. However, there are men with normal semen tests but with impaired fertilizing ability, as well as fertile men with poor sperm characteristics. Thus, there is rising interest to find novel parameters that will help to predict and define the functional capacity of spermatozoa. Methods. We examined whether there is a correlation between semen parameters (count, progressive motility, and morphology) and protein expression/activity of antioxidative defense enzymes in seminal plasma from 10 normospermic subjects. Results. Sperm progressive motility was in positive correlation with seminal plasma protein expression of both superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoforms (MnSOD and CuZnSOD) and catalase. Also, positive correlation was observed between sperm count and MnSOD protein expression, as well as between sperm morphology and protein expression of catalase in seminal plasma. In contrast, protein expression of glutathione peroxidase was not in correlation with any sperm parameter, while its activity negatively correlated with sperm morphology and motility. Conclusions. These data suggest that evaluation of protein expression of antioxidative defense enzymes in seminal plasma might be of importance in the evaluation of male fertility status and that could be used as an additional biomarker along with classic semen analysis in assessment of semen quality. Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}173054]; COST {[}BM1203]

Najcesci uzrocnik bolesti prenosivih polnim putem danas u svetu i kod nas jeste bakterija Chlamydia trachomatis. jedinstven bifazni razvojni ciklus striktan intracelulni parazitizam i zajednicki genus-specificni lipopolisaharidni epitel tipicni su i zajednicki za sve vrste hlamidija. Chlamydia trachomatis je najcesci uzrocnik mukopurulentnog cervicitisa (KOJi je obicno udružen s uretritisom), endometritisa i inflamacionog oboljenja pelvisa, dok su dve najteže komplikacije genitalnih hlamidijskih infekcija sterilitet (posledica opstrukcije jajovoda) i vanmatericna trudnoca. Najveci broj hlamidijskih infekcija je asimptomski. U patogenezi hlamidijskih infekcija znacajnu ulogu igraju proteini nazvani "hit sok" (heat shock) koji su imunodominantni antigeni. Najvažniju ulogu u sprecavanju nastanka inflamacionog oboljenja pelvisa i kasnijih sekvela ima sekundarna prevencija skriningom.

Global rise in male infertility give importance to find a new approach to increase fertility. Redox signaling emerged recently as important for spermatozoa functioning. Accordingly, we just showed great therapeutic potential of redox modulator SOD mimic M40403. Molecular mechanisms underlying beneficial effects of M40403 indicate NO involvement, but remain unsolved; we aimed to reveal this herein. Compared to the control, incubation of spermatozoa in Tyrode's medium for 3 h, decreased sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), level of NO, expression of NO synthases (NOSs), and completely abolished nuclear localization of NF-E2-related nuclear factor 2 (Nrf2) that was followed by decrease in SODs, catalase and GPX expression. Treatment with M40403 decreased levels of O2•–, increased level of NO, restored expression of NOSs and MMP, and triggered marked nuclear translocation of Nrf2 followed by up-regulation of SODs, catalase and GPX and increase in sperm motility. In turn, M40403 + L-NAME treatment nullified all beneficial effects of M40403. These data reveal the redox based mechanisms of beneficial effects of M40403 SOD mimic in sperm cells, suggesting NO/Nrf2 signaling as a central pathway. Utilization of a redox modulator, M40403, as an inducer of Nrf2 is a promising pharmacological approach for the improvement of sperm fertilizing potential and beat infertility.

Introduction. Anal atresia is a congenital anomaly, very life threatening and urgent. Surgical treatment of this anomaly consists of colostomy first, and then of anal reconstruction. Case report. We presented a 31-year old female with the surgery treatment of anal atresia in the early childhood. In the reproductive period, due to tubal infertily, the patient was included in the program of in vitro fertilization (IVF), in the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics 'Narodni front', Belgrade. Within this program a long protocol of ovarian stimulation was performed. Ultrasonographic and color Doppler monitoring of the patient was applied by the use of an ultrasonographic apparatus type Siemens Acuson X 150, while any hormonal examinations were performed by an Architect Abbott unit. During the IVF program, the growth of follicules was controlled by the use of ultrasonography, microcirculation of the ovaries and the uterus was marked by a power-pulsating color Doppler, and hormonal examination was performed starting from the day of stimulation up to the day of injecting Pregnyl?. The patient was administered Suprefact? (buserelin) sc from the 21st day of the menstrual cycle, as well as from the 3rd day of the cycle, for totally 11 days. The patient was given 29 ampoules of Gonal F? (recombinant human FSH) 75 IJ im and 15 ampoules of Menopur? (menotrophin) im. Due to a modified pelvic anatomy, the left ovary aspiration was disabled, while the right ovary aspired seven oocytes successfully. Three embryos were inserted in the uterus. The delivery was performed by cesarean section. Conclusion. In the reported patient with a modified pelvic anatomy due to four corrective surgeries of anal atresia, and tubal infertility in the reproductive period, the method of choice for the realization of pregnancy was the IVF procedure. The realized pregnancy and the delivery could be considered highly successful in regard to possible risks.

Mitochondria play an important role in sperm cell maturation and function. Here, we examined whether (and how) changes in sperm redox milieu affect the functional status of sperm mitochondria, that is, sperm functionality. Compared with the control, incubation in Tyrode's medium for 3 h, under noncapacitating conditions, decreased sperm motility, the amount of nitric oxide ((NO)-N-center dot), the number of MitoTracker (R) Green FM (MT-G) positive mitochondria, and the expression of complexes I and IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. In turn, superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimic (M40403) treatment restored/increased these parameters, as well as the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, manganese SOD, and catalase. These data lead to the hypothesis that M40403 improves mitochondrial functional state and motility of spermatozoa, as well as (NO)-N-center dot might be involved in the observed effects of the mimic. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 18, 170-178. Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia [173054]; University of Erlangen-Nuremberg