Soghra Fallahi - Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Minoo Rajaei - Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Mohammad javad Hesam - International Institute of French Studies, University of Strasbourg, ۲ Allée René Capitant, ۶۷۰۸۱, Strasbourg, France.
Mohsen Koolivand - Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan, Iran.
Kianoosh Malekzadeh - Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

Background: Oxidative stress is caused by the imbalance occurring between the creation and clearance of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is responsible for ۳۰-۴۰% of male infertility. The positive impact of phoenix dactylifera pollen (Date palm pollen, DPP) on the improvement of sperm parameters has been well documented in animal models. Objective: For evaluating the effect(s) of DPP on sperm parameters, ROS levels, expression of antioxidant genes, and activity of antioxidant enzymes of infertile men. Materials and Methods: In this controlled clinical trial, a total of ۶۰ male case with infertility and ۲۰ normospermic fertile men were recruited. Before and after the treatment with DPP, the case were administered ۴۰۰ mg/kg of gelatinous capsules daily for ۳۰ consecutive days and semen samples were taken. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was applied for the evaluation of the mRNA expression levels of Nuclear factor erythroid ۲-related factor ۲ (NRF۲), superoxide dismutase (SOD۲), glutathione peroxidase ۴ (GPX۴), and catalase (CAT) genes. Results: The mRNA expression levels of NRF۲, SOD۲, GPX۴, and CAT (p < ۰.۰۵ for all) and significantly increased after treatment with DPP. The increased expressions of all antioxidant genes and enzymes significantly correlated with improvement in semen parameters including count         (p = ۰.۰۱), motility (p = ۰.۰۵), and morphology (p = ۰.۰۱) of sperm. A significant correlation between the alteration of SOD۲ gene expression and SOD activity, GPX۴ and GPX, and CAT were also observed (p = ۰.۰۵). Conclusion: DPP can increase the expressions of NRF۲, GPX۴, SOD۲, and CAT genes and also improve the semen quality in infertile men.

DPP, Male infertility, SOD۲, NRF۲, GPX۴, CAT, ROS, Spermatozoa., DPP, ناباروری مردان, SOD۲, NRF۲, GPX۴ و CAT, گونه­های واکنشی اکسیژن, پارامترهای اسپرم.