|
|
||||
|
Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
||||
|
ISSN 1681-715X |
||||
|
||||
|
- |
||||
|
ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
||||
|
- |
||||
|
Volume 23 |
January - March 2007 |
Number 1 |
||
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
||||
|
ISSN 1681-715X |
||||
|
||||
|
- |
||||
|
ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
||||
|
- |
||||
|
Volume 23 |
January - March 2007 |
Number 1 |
||
|
|
||||
|
||||
Relationship of zinc concentrations in blood and seminal
plasma with various semen parameters in infertile subjectsHasan Ali1, Masood Ahmed2, Mukhtiar Baig3, Moazzam Ali4
ABSTRACT
Objective: To find out relationship of zinc concentrations in blood and seminal plasma with various semen parameters between fertile and infertile men.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: This study was carried out in the Infertility Clinic of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi and Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi.
Subjects & Methods: Fifty eight primary infertile male subjects, without any treatment, who had regular unprotected intercourse for at least 12 months without conception with their partners, aged 20-40 years, were selected from Infertility Clinic Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi. After semen analyses they were grouped as, oligospermic (30), and azoospermic (28). Twenty five known fertile male selected from general population and after semen analysis were taken as normospermic control group. Semen analyzed according to WHO criteria. Serum and seminal plasma zinc were estimated by 5Br. PAPS Colorimetric method.
Results: This study showed significant difference in serum and seminal zinc levels in normospermic, oligospermic (p<0.05) and azoospermic (p<0.005) subjects. Seminal plasma zinc showed a positive correlation with sperm count and negative with sperm motility in normospermic and oligospermic and negative correlation with volume, pH, WBC concentration in all three groups. There was no correlation found with sperm morphology.
Conclusion: On the basis of the findings of this study and those of other reports, zinc may contribute to fertility through its significant effects on various semen parameters. It seems that the estimation of seminal plasma zinc may help in investigation and treatment of infertile males.
KEY WORDS: Seminal Zinc, Oligospermic, Azoospermic, Infertility.
Pak J Med Sci January - March 2007 Vol. 23 No.1 111-114
1. Dr. Hasan Ali MBBS, M. Phil,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Biochemistry,
2. Dr. Masood Ahmed MBBS, M. Phil,
Professor,
Department of Anatomy,
1-2: Baqai Medical University, Karachi.
3. Dr. Mukhtiar Baig MBBS, M.Phil
Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry,
Liaquat National Medical College, Karachi.
4. Dr Moazzam Ali MBBS, M.Phil
Professor, Department of Anatomy,
Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi.Correspondence:
Dr. Hasan Ali,
16-B, 5th Floor, Society Apartment,
Kashmir Road,
Karachi – Pakistan.* Received for Publication: September 20, 2005
* Revision Received: March 26, 2006
* Revision Accepted: July 19, 2006
INTRODUCTION
Infertility is complex and has multiple causes and consequences depending on the gender, sexual history, life style of society and cultural background of people it affects.1
Infertility affects about 8% to 12% of the world’s population and in about half of cases men are either the single cause of or contribute the couple’s infertility.2 In fact trace elements calcium, magnesium, copper, selenium, and zinc play very vital role in effecting various parameters of semen. Among trace elements increasing evidence of a direct relationship of zinc was found with seminal parameters.3 Zinc (Zn) in seminal plasma stabilizes the cell membrane and nuclear chromatin of spermatozoa.4,5 It may also have an antibacterial function6 and protect the testis against the degenerative changes.7 It may play a regulatory role in the process of capacitation and acrosome reaction.8 The relationship of zinc to the routinely determined variables of semen quality is controversial. This study was designed to evaluate and compare blood and seminal plasma zinc level with various semen parameters among fertile and infertile male subjects.SUBJECT AND METHODS
This study was carried out in the Infertility Clinic Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi and Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi. Fifty eight primary infertile male subjects, without any treatment, who had regular unprotected intercourse for at least 12 months without conception with their partners, aged 20-40 years, were selected from Infertile Clinic, JPMC, Karachi. Wives of the infertile subjects included had no obvious causes of infertility like tubal blockage or ovulation disorders. At first clinic attendance, a detailed background history and physical examination were done on both husband and wife. The sperm count was used to group the infertile subjects as, oligospermic (28), and azoospermic (30). The subjects having sperm count less than 20 million/ml were taken as oligospermic while azoospermic having zero sperm count. Twenty five fertile male whose partners had conceived within a year and having sperm count more than 20 million/ml with motility more than 50%, were selected from general population and taken as normospermic control group.
Individuals who had undergone pelvic surgery of hernia repair, having diabetes or thyroid disease; patients who were on antipsychotic or antihypertensive drugs, or taking alcohol, nicotine, vitamin and mineral supplementation were excluded from the study.
Semen and serum sampling: Semen samples were obtained by masturbation into 50 ml sterile polystyrene jars after an abstinence period of 3 to 5 days. After liquefaction, samples were processed by conventional analysis to determine the volume, pH, sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology according to WHO criteria.
9 The seminal plasma was collected after centrifugation at 2000 rpm for 15-20 minutes. Supernatant were transferred in fresh tubes and stored at –20°C until used for zinc assay. Informed consent was obtained and 5 ml of blood samples were taken from each subject in the morning after an overnight fasting. After centrifugation serum was kept frozen at 20°C until analyzed for the zinc. Serum and Seminal Plasma zinc was estimated by 5-Br PAPS colorimetric method using kit supplied by Spinreact SA Spain. The estimation of zinc is based on principle in which zinc react with specific complexant 5-Br PAPS forms a stable color complex. The color intensity is proportional to the amount of zinc present in the sample. Results were analyzed statistically using SPSS version 10.8 to analyze the data.RESULTS
Results are expressed as mean ± SEM for each parameter. Statistically significant differences among oligospermic, azoospermic and normospermic control groups are indicated along with their significant values.
The Zn concentration in blood and seminal plasma in three groups are shown in Table-I.
Serum and seminal Zn levels were significantly lower in oligospermic and azoospermic infertile patients than normospermic, fertile males (p<0.05, p<0.01 respectively)
Correlation coefficient of seminal plasma zinc with various semen parameters in control, oligospermic & azoospermic males are depicted in Table-II. This study observed significant positive correlation of seminal plasma zinc concentration with sperm count in oligospermic and negative correlation with volume, pH, sperm motility & WBC concentration in oligospermic & azoospermic groups. Correlation coefficient of serum zinc with various semen parameters in control, oligospermic & azoospermic males are shown in Table-III. No significant correlation of serum zinc was observed with seminal plasma zinc concentration and other semen parameters.
DISCUSSION
In this study, there was significant low level of serum and seminal plasma zinc levels in oligospermic and azoospermic males. Similar results have been reported elsewhere.
10-13 Our results are also incompatible with several studies.14-17In the present study volume and pH of semen were found to be negatively correlated with the seminal plasma zinc in infertile subjects. These results are in accordance with several studies
18-21 and contrary with other.17 When ejaculation occurs, sperms are released together with acidic prostatic fluid; which contains zinc, citric acid & acid phosphatase that make the acidic pH in the first fraction whereas the later fraction contains few sperm and consist mainly of an alkaline vesicular fluid rich in fructose and high molecular weight ligands of seminal vesicular origin.19 If any abnormality lies in either prostate gland or in seminal vesicle, the pH would be reflected either increased or decreased respectively. A good correlation in a positive direction was noted between the sperm count and seminal plasma zinc concentration. These results are contrary to the finding of several studies17,18,21 and are in accordance with a few.22,23 A clinical study demonstrated that adult males experimentally deprived of zinc showed that the leydig cell synthesis of testosterone was disturbed.22 Since zinc plays an important role in 5α reductase enzyme that is necessary for the conversion of testosterone into biologically active form 5α dihydrotestosterone.24 There was no correlation with sperm morphology with seminal plasma zinc concentration. This result is comparable with other studies.11,18The sperm motility was found to be negatively correlated with seminal plasma zinc levels in oligospermic subjects which differs from the result of several studies
11,12,21 and are in accordance with similar results which have been reported elsewhere.8,25,26 In this study we found significant negative correlation of WBC with seminal plasma zinc concentration. The prostatic zinc may have antibacterial activity because Trichomonas vaginalis is readily killed at concentration of zinc that occur in the prostatic fluid of healthy men.6 There was no significant correlation of serum zinc with seminal plasma zinc and other semen parameters. Similar result were reported in few other studies.18,27CONCLUSION
On the basis of the findings of this and other reports, seminal zinc may contribute to fertility through its effect on various semen parameters. It seems that the estimation of seminal plasma zinc may help in investigation and treatment of infertile males.
REFERENCES
1. Kerry LW. Defining infertility. Family Health International 2003;23:4-8.
2. Barbara B. Men contribute to and suffer from Infertility. Family Health International 2003;23:17-20.
3. Stan well – SRS, Thompson A, Haines R. A comparative study of zinc, copper, cadmium and lead levels in fertile and infertile men. Fertil steril 1983;40:670-7.
4. Chvapil M. New aspects in biological role of zinc. A stabilizer of macromolecules and biological membrane. Life Sci 1973;13:1041-9.
5. Kvist U. Sperm nuclear chromatin decondensation ability. An in vitro study on ejaculated human spermatozoa. Acta physiol scand suppl 1980;486:1-24
6. Langley J, Goldsmid J, Davies N. Venereal trichomoniasis role in men. Genitourin Med 1987;63:264-7.
7. Batra N, Nehru B, Bansal MP. Reproductive potential of male Portan rats exposed to various levels of lead with regard to zinc status. Br J Nutr 2004;91:387-91.
8. Riffo M, Leiva S, Astudillo J. Effect of zinc on human sperm motility and acrosome reaction. Int J Androl 1992;15:229-37.
9. World Health Organization. WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Semen-Cervical Mucus Interaction, 3rd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK 1992: 6.
10. Mohan H, Verma J, Singh I, Mohan P, Marwah S, Singh P. Inter-relationship of zinc levels in serum and semen in oligospermic infertile patients and fertile males. Indian J Pathol Microbial 1997;40:451-5.
11. Fuse H, Kazama T, Ohta S, Fujiuchi Y. Relationship between zinc concentration in seminal plasma and various sperm parameters. Int Urol Nephrol 1999;31:401-8.
12. Chia SE, Ong CN, Chua LH, Ho LM, Tay SK. Comparison of zinc concentration in blood and seminal plasma and various sperm parameters between fertile and infertile men. J Androl 2000;21:53-7.
13. Koca Y, Ozdal OL, Celik M, Unal S, Balaban N. Antioxidant activity of seminal plasma in fertile and infertile men. Arch Androl 2003;49:355-9.
14. Adejuwon CA, Ilesanmi AO, Ode EO, Akinlade KS. Biophysical and biochemical analysis of semen in infertile Nigerian males. Afr J Med Sci 1996;25:217-9.
15. Wong WY, Flik G, Groenen PM, SwinkelsTC, Copius-Peereboom JH, et al. The impact of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in blood and seminal plasma on semen parameters in men. Reprod Toxicol 2001;15:131-6.
16. Wong WY, Merkus HM, Thomas CM, Menkveld R, Zielhuis GA, Steegers- TRP. Effects of folic acid and zinc sulphate on male factor subfertility: A double- blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Fertile Steril 2002;77:491-8.
17. Omu AE, Dashti H, Mohamed AT, Mattappallil AB. Significance of trace elements in seminal plasma of infertile men. Supplement to nutrition 1995;11:502-5.
18. Eggert-Kruse W, Zwick EM, Batshulat K, Rohr G, Armbruster FP, Petzoldt D, et al. Are Zinc Levels in seminal plasma associated with Seminal leukocytes and others determinants of semen quality. Fertil steril 2002;77:260-9.
19. Bjorndahl L, Kjellberg S, Kivist V. Ejaculatory sequence in men with low sperm chromatin zinc. Int J Androl 1991;14:174-8.
20. Krupej J. Tomola J, Zych F, Bakonl, Orgaska H, Machalski T. Zinc concentration in human semen of man from childless marriage. Ginekol Pol 1992;63:291-5
21. Lin YC, Chang TC, Tseng YJ, Huang FJ, Kung FT, Chang SY. Seminal plasma zinc levels and sperm motion characteristics in infertile samples. Changgeng Yi Xue Za Zhi 2000;23:260-6.
22. Netter A, Hartoma R, Nahail K. Effects of Zinc administration on plasma testosterone and dihydro testosterone and sperm count. Arch Androl 1981;7:69-73.
23. Saaranen M, Suistoaa U, Kantola M, Saarikoski S, Vanha- Tertula T. Lead magnesium, selenium and zinc in human seminal fluid: Comparision withsemen parameters and fertility. Hum Reprod 1987;2:475-9.
24. Hunt CD, Johnson P, Herbal J, Muller LK. Effects of dietary zinc depletion on seminal volume and zinc loss, serum concentrations and sperm morphology in young men. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;56:148-57.
25. Carreras A, Mendoza C. Zinc levels in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men. Andrologia 1990;22:279-83.
26. Henkel R, Bittner J, Weber R, Huther F, Miska W. Relevance of zinc in human sperm flagella and its relation to motility. Fertil Steril 1999;71:1138-43.
27. Madding CL, Jacob M, Ramsay VP, Sokol RZ. Serum and semen zinc levels in normospermic and oilgospermic men. Ann Nutr Metab 1986;30:213-8.
HOME | SEARCH | CURRENT ISSUE | PAST ISSUES
Professional
Medical Publications
Room No. 522, 5th Floor, Panorama Centre
Building No. 2, P.O. Box 8766, Saddar, Karachi - Pakistan.
Phones : 5688791, 5689285 Fax : 5689860
pjms@pjms.com.pk
