الفهرس 
Apoptosis
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Abstract
Caspases are enzymes found to be major transducers and effectors within the different pathways of apoptosis-signaling network in somatic cells. The proper regulations of caspases cascade play an important role in sperm differentiation and testicular maturity. The objectives of the present study were: To detect apoptosis in ejaculated sperm in subfertile men by determination of CP9 activity as apoptotic marker, to correlate this process with sperm parameters and To evaluate the functional impact of apoptosis on sperm quality and function. A group of healthy fertile subjects (n=15) were studied as a control. Infertile subjects with different andrological problems [varicocele (n=25), MAGI (n=13) and idiopathic infertility (n=14)]. In addition, semen samples from infertile men with rare abnormal morphology (globozoospermia n=7, pinhead n=6, megalospermia n=5 and stress pattern n= 19) were studied. All persons were subjected to: semen analysis using a computer-assisted-system, sperm morphology evaluation, studying immunological factor, leukocytes count in semen, estimation of neutral α- glucosidase in seminal plasma, assessment of acrosin activity, estimation of serum FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol and prolactin levels and Assessment of CP9 in sperm cells. Results: CP9 was significantly increased in patients groups and abnormal morphology groups as compared with the control. Alpha-glucosidase levels were significantly decreased in subfertile groups as compared to control. Acrosin activity was significantly decreased in patients groups as compared with the control. In stress pattern and megalospermia, acrosin activity was significantly decreased compared to control. A significant negative correlation was found between CP9 activity and sperm concentration, grade a motility, grade (a+b) motility, velocity, linear velocity, linearity index, normal morphology, α-glucosidase, acrosin halo formation rate , acrosin index and acrosin halo diameter. CP9 activity also showed a significant positive correlation with WBCs concentration and FSH hormone, and a significant negative correlation with testosterone hormone. Conclusion: Caspase-dependent apoptosis contribute in the pathogenesis of male infertility and it seems that apoptosis is a final result of pathologies and deregulation of spermatogenesis control.