Trace Elements and Lipid Peroxidation in Human Seminal Plasma

Abstract

In the present study, the concentrations of copper, iron, zinc, and malondialdehyde in human seminal plasma were measured and correlated with the sperm count and motility in human semen. Copper, iron, and zinc were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas malondialdehyde was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The malondialdehyde concentrations in asthenospermia and oligoasthenospermia were significantly higher than in normospermia. Copper and iron levels were higher in asthenospermia, whereas the zinc concentrations in both oligospermia and asthenospermia were lower than in normal controls. A negative correlation (r = -0.28, p < 0.05) between the malondialdehyde concentration and sperm motility was observed in the abnormal groups. There was no association among copper, iron, zinc, and malondialdehyde in seminal plasma. We concluded that changes in trace elements may be related to sperm quality and that lipid peroxidation, although it is not promoted in the seminal plasma by copper or iron or ameliorated by zinc, may be involved in the loss of sperm motility.

Relationship between seminal malondialdehyde levels and sperm quality in fertile and infertile men

“…Suleiman et al (1996) demonstrated that the MDA concentration in the seminal plasma was not correlated with the sperm concentration and motility. In this work the negative significant correlation was observed between lipid peroxidation with sperm concentration, motility and normal morphology between fertile and infertile men which was compatible with the findings of Kobayashi et al (1991), Huang et al (2000), Hsieh et al (2006), Zalata et al (2004), Suleiman et al (1996) and Gomez et al (1998). But this correlation was not significant in the fertile or infertile men.…”

“…Indeed, this decrease in fluidity could affect the membrane transport activity and thereby affect on the surviving of sperm. A number of studies have shown that lipid peroxidation affects the sperm concentration, motility, morphology and related with poor sperm quality (Huang et al 2000;Hsieh et al, 2006;Gomez et al, 1998). Kobayashi et al (1991) demonstrated that MDA level in spermatozoa was significantly related to the number of immotile sperm.…”

Adverse Effects of Low Level Heavy Metal Exposure on Male Reproductive Function

“…No information was provided on how infertility was defined, on demographics, or on possible confounders. Seventy semen samples were collected from healthy college students and from adult men undergoing infertility evaluation in Taiwan [Huang et al 2000]. The men were divided 159 Ambient Heavy Metal Exposure and Male Reproduction into normospermic, oligospermic, asthenospermic, and oligoasthenospermic.…”

Non-invasive biological fluid matrices analysed to assess exposure to environmental tobacco smoke

“…The sodium and calcium ion concentrations in semen samples decreased with the number of cigarettes smoked per day (similar relationships were not observed in the saliva, urine and sweat matrices). Calcium ions regulate a variety of processes in the human body; they also affect fertility and help in maintenance of pregnancy (Pandy et al, 1983;Stanwell-Smith, 1983;Hamamah and Gatti, 1998;Chia, 2000;Huang, 2000;Demkowska et al, 2010). The low calcium ion concentrations determined in the semen samples collected from active and passive smokers, compared with the semen samples from non-smokers, may affect the fertility of these subjects.…”