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THNC AND COPPER CONCENTRATIONS IN SEMINAL PLASMAE IRAQI POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL JOURNAL VOL.7, NO. 1, 2008

Status ! "#$% a$& C''() C$%($t)at#$s #$ S(*#$a+P+as*a !

Ma+( I$!()t#+#t, a$& T-(#) C))(+at#$ .#t- Va)#usS'()*Pa)a*(t()s

/as#+ O#(& M-a**(& Sa+(- , Naa+ -#) Hussa#$ , A+# a3u4 Ma5#& ,/a$ T-a4(t, -a6)a5 A44as a&-#+

A/STRACT/ACGROUNDHuman semen contains high concentrations of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in bound and ionic forms .The

presence of abnormal levels of these trace elements may affect spermatogenesis with regard to production ,

maturation , motility , and fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa. The aim of this study is to evaluate the

levels of Zn and Cu in seminal plasma in different groups of male infertility and to correlate their

concentrations with various semen parameters.METHODSorty primary infertile male individuals ,who had regular unprotected intercourse for at least one year

without conception with their partners ,aged !"#$% years were involved in the present study .&fter seminalplasma fluid analyses they were grouped as, azoospermic (n'!), oligoasthenozoospermic (n') ,and

teratozoospermic (n'!) .Twelve fertile males selected from general population and after seminal fluid

investigation were ta*en as normospermic control group .Zinc and Copper concentrations in separated

seminal plasma of each infertile male and fertile control sub+ect were determined by atomic absorptionspectrophotometer.RESULTSThis study showed significant decrease of seminal plasma Zn mean (-/) value in

oligoasthenozoospermic infertile males than in fertile male controls (p0%.%12) .3n azoospermic males, themean (-/) value of seminal plasma Zn levels was decreased (but still beyond the significantlevel,p'%.%4) when compared with that of fertile males. 5ith regard to seminal plasma copper level therewas insignificant decrease in its level in azoospermic males and insignificant increase in its concentrationin oligoasthenozoospermic and in teratozoospermic males when compared with that of healthy fertilemales.3n addition, there was a significant decrease in seminal plasma copper concentration in azoospermicmales than in oligoasthenozoospermic males (p0%.%1").The results also revealed a significant positivecorrelation between the sperm motility values and the seminal plasma zinc levels in

oligoasthenozoospermic group(r'%.4, p0%.%!!) along with a significant negative correlation betweensperm morphology values and zinc seminal plasma levels in teratozoospermic group (r'#%.1,p0%.%$6).

CONCLUSION7n the basis of the findings of this study, it seems that the estimation of seminal plasma levels of zinc and

copper may aid in investigation and treatment of infertile males.E9ORDSinfertility, azoospermic , oligoasthenozoospermic ,seminal Zinc ,seminal Copper .

INTRODUCTION

3nfertility is comple8 and has many causes andconse9uences depending on the gender, se8ual

:;ept. of aghdad.

::3nstitute of mberyo ?esearch and 3nfertility,=niv. of&@# Aahrain.

:::

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"INC AND COPPER CONCENTRATIONS IN SEMINAL PLASMA

abnormalities ,and environmental factors(1) Human

semen contains high concentrations of trace elementsli*e calcium (Ca) ,magnesium (/g), copper (Cu)

,selenium (-e) ,and zinc (Zn) in bound and free

(ionic) forms .These trace elements play very vitalrole in affecting various parameters of semen ($) .The testicular plasma ,that is ,the fluid composed of

the secretions originating in the seminiferous tubules,tubuli recti ,rete testis ,and ductuli efferents ,and the

epididymal plasma serve as nutrient medium inwhich maturation of the developing spermatozoa

ta*es place (",).Trace elements have been shown tobe essential for testicular development andspermatogenesis (2). Zinc in seminal plasma stabilizesthe cell membrane and nuclear chromatin of

(4,

a detailed bac*ground history and physicale8amination were done on both husband and wife.

-emen specimens from all infertile patients werecollected into sterile polystyrene +ars after an

abstinence period of 1 to " days .& portion of eachsemen sample was e8amined for sperm count,motility and morphologic features .3nfertile male

patients were then divided into the following threegroups Daccording to their sperm count Emotility and Eor

morphology ,5H7 criteria ,66!(2)FG)u' I A6s'()*#%(sperm count 'zero, n'!),G)u' II 7ligoasthenozoospermic (sperm count0!%G%Em ,motility0"%B ,n'), andG)u' III Teratozoospermic (sperm count !%G%Eml, motility "%B, morphology0"%B, n'!).

spermatozoa 6) .Zinc may also be the primaryfactor responsible for the antibacterial activity of the

seminal plasma (%) and protect the male gonadsagainst the degenerative changes ().3t may also play a regulatory role in the process of

capacitation and acrosome reaction ($, !) .@owcontent of this metal (Zn) has been suggested to

diminish fertility potential in males (1).Zinc deficiency leads to gonadal dysfunction,

decreases testicular weight, and causes shrin*age of

seminiferous tubules ($). Copper is an important

element for numerous metalloenzymes andmetalloproteins that are involved in energy orantio8idant metabolism. However, in its ionic form(Cu !) and at high level, this trace element rapidly

becomes to8ic to a variety of cells, including humanspermatozoa ().

3t has been identified that Cu is highly to8ic forsperm (").3n vitro studies, it has been demonstrated

the effect of Cu in intrauterine devices preventingconception (). The present study was designed to

evaluate seminal plasma levels of zinc and copperand to correlate their concentractions with various

semen parameters among fertile and infertile male

sub+ects.

SU/JECTS AND METHODSThis study was carried out at the 3nstitute of mberyo

?esearch and 3nfertility, =niv. of &@# Aahrain,

>aghdad, during the period from eb.!%% to &ugust!%%. orty primary infertile male sub+ects ,who had

regular unprotected intercourse for at least one year

without conception with their partners , aged !"#$%

years were included in this study .uc* -cientific, model !% JK

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urthermore ,this element ,Cu ,was insignificantlyincreased in oligoasthenozoospermic infertile males

and in teratozoospermic infertile males than in fertilecontrol sub+ects (Table ) .

&mong infertile male groups there was a significant

decrease in plasma Cu level in azoospermic patients

than in oligoasthenozoospermic infertile group

(%.1%%.$ mgEdl, %.2%%.1mgEdlL respectively

p0%.%1", Table ).

Ta4+( 1"#$% a$& C''() C$%($t)at#$s #$ S(*#$a+ P+as*a #$ T-)(( G)u's ! I$!()t#+( Ma+(s a$& ()t#+(C$t)+ G)u' .T-( Va+u(s a)( E;')(ss(& as M(a$.

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mean values of seminal plasma Zn levels between the

entire group of samples from infertile individuals andthose from fertile individuals .However, the latter

authors observed that Zn concentration of the seminal

plasma in azoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermicpatients was significantly lower than that in othergroups of male infertility .The authors concluded that

ade9uate seminal concentration of the Zn is re9uired

for normal sperm function . 3t has been demonstrated

that Zn in human semen is derived from the prostate(6). 7ne important function of the Zn seems to be its

regulatory role in the level of dihydrotestosterone by

modulating the " N # reductase enzyme activity,which is located in the microsomal and nuclear

fraction of the prostatic cell (!%). 7ther important roles

suggested for the Zn include maintenance of the

structural integrity of macromolecules (!), regulation

of protein and nucleic acid metabolism (!!), andactivation of mitochondrial function and &Taig /, and &li /.

?elationship of zinc concentrations in blood

and seminal plasma with various semenparameters in infertile sub+ects.

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:. 5ong 5 R, li* K, Kroenen ahuguna &. Zinc, copper and

selenium in reproduction. 8perientia. 66$L

"%, !#$%.1. -Oandhan Oiochem. 64$L !%, ".21. Chvapil /. Aew aspects in the biological role

of zinc .& stabilizer of macromolecules ofbiological membranes. @ife -cience. 621L

1,%$.22. >ettger 5P, 7 ;ell >@ .& critical

physiological role of zinc in the structure and

function of biomembranes. @ife -cience.

64L !4, $!".2?. Ramaguchi /, Oura ,/, 7*ada -. ?ole of

zinc as an activator of mitochondrial function

in rat liver. >iochem. iol.

664L 26, 26#4$.28. @indholmer C.The importance of seminal

plasma for human sperm motility. >iol.?eprod. 62$L %,"11.

2B. >accetti >, urrini & K. Theaccessory fibers of the sperm tail. 3 3. Theirrole in binding zinc in mammals and

cephalopods. P =ltrastract .?es. 62L "$,!.

THE IRAQI POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL JOURNAL 80 VOL.7, NO. 1, 2008

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