男性年龄与精子质量和精浆生化的关系

目的探讨不同年龄段男性精子质量与精浆弹性硬蛋白酶和精浆中性α-葡萄糖苷酶的关系。方法回顾性分析在嘉兴市妇幼保健院门诊检测精子质量和精浆生化(精浆弹性硬蛋白酶、精浆中性α-葡萄糖苷酶)的3 262例患者的临床资料。根据年龄分为5组:25岁组、25~29岁组、30~34岁组、35~39岁组和≥40岁组;并按精子质量分为少弱精子症(301例)、少精子症(193例)、弱精子症(1 335例)及正常精子组(1 433例)。统计分析不同精子质量不同年龄段男性的精浆弹性硬蛋白酶、精浆中性α-葡萄糖苷酶资料。结果 (1)3 262例精液分析,精浆中性α-葡萄糖苷酶异常发生率7.14%,精浆弹性硬蛋白酶水平确诊感染率29.25%;(2)各年龄组总体精浆中性α-葡萄糖苷酶异常发生率相似(P0.05),生殖道感染发生率随年龄增加有增高趋势(P0.05);(3)不同精子质量各组总体精浆中性α-葡萄糖苷酶异常发生率不同(P0.05),其中少精子症和少弱精子症组均显著高于弱精子症组及精子正常组(P0.05),但生殖道感染发生率相似(P0.05);(4)随着年龄增加,不同精子质量各组精浆中性α-葡萄糖苷酶异常发生率相似(P0.05),而精浆弹性硬蛋白酶异常发生率有增高趋势(P0.05),其中少弱精子症、少精子症患者各年龄组间比较均有统计学差异(P0.05);(5)各精子质量组精浆弹性硬蛋白酶测定值均随着年龄增加呈增高趋势,且正常精子组的精浆弹性硬蛋白酶测定值在35~39岁组及≥40岁组均显著高于25岁组(P0.05)。结论男科门诊患者中生殖道感染具有普遍性;伴随难以自愈的生殖道感染的少弱精子症、少精子症和弱精子症可能与男性患者年龄增加有关,亦可能与附性腺病变严重程度、病程进展所处不同阶段有关。     

精浆转铁蛋白含量与不育的关系

为探讨精浆转铁蛋白 (Tf)含量与男性生育力的关系 ,采用速率散射比浊法 ,对 2 0例正常生育男性和 96例不育男性精浆Tf含量进行了测定 ,同时做精子密度、精子活动率及精子顶体完整率 (PIA)分析。结果表明少精子组 (精子密度 <2 0× 10 6/ml)精浆Tf含量较生育组与正常密度组 (精子密度≥ 2 0× 10 6/ml)显著低 (P <0 .0 1) ;精浆Tf含量与精子活动率无关 ;正常精子密度的不育患者精子PIA <80 %组精浆Tf的含量显著低于PIA≥ 80 %组(P <0 .0 1)。提示精浆Tf含量的下降与男性生育力有关     

男性不育患者生殖道溶脲脲原体感染对精液质量影响的研究

目的:了解男性不育患者生殖道溶脲脲原体感染情况,探讨男性不育患者生殖道溶脲脲原体感染对精液质量、附属性腺功能的影响及可能机制。方法:本研究对202例确诊的男性不育患者的精液标本进行溶脲脲原体培养,对精液参数及精浆α-葡萄糖苷酶、酸性磷酸酶和果糖进行检测,分析生殖道溶脲脲原体感染对精液参数及精浆生化指标的影响。结果:男性不育患者生殖道溶脲脲原体感染率为33.7%;生殖道溶脲脲原体感染阳性组和阴性组间精液量相差不显著[(2.93±1.32)mlvs(2.86±1.52)ml,P=0.774];阳性组精子密度较阴性组患者明显偏低[(84.37±52.92)×106/mlvs(101.90±43.90)×106/ml,P=0.025];阳性组精子活率较阴性组患者明显偏低[(44.62±22.13)%vs(51.83±19.88)%,P=0.036];阳性组患者精子活力明显低于阴性患者[(38.40±15.61)%vs(44.45±15.47)%,P=0.020];两组精液pH值均在正常值范围内,但阳性组明显高于阴性组(7.32±0.10vs7.19±0.29,P=0.003);阳性组与阴性组除侧摆幅度、向前运动、直线运动和摆动性等4项指标相差不显著外,对曲线运动性、直线速度、平均路径速度、平均移动角度)和鞭打频率等5项指标均有影响;阳性组精浆α-葡萄糖苷酶较阴性组明显降低[(40.0±18.7)U/mlvs(47.9±21.0)U/ml,P=0.026],Uu感染阳性组α-葡萄糖苷酶降低的相对危险性是阴性组的2.12倍;两组间精浆酸性磷酸酶和果糖水平无统计学差异(P均>0.05)。结论:在男性不育患者中,生殖道溶脲脲原体感染是精液质量下降的重要危险因素;生殖道溶脲脲原体感染可导致附睾分泌α-葡萄糖苷酶下降,但对前列腺酸性磷酸酶及果糖无明显影响,而这种感染对前列腺和精囊危害相对有限。     

一氧化氮、一氧化氮合酶与伴精索静脉曲张不育患者精液参数的关系

目的:探讨一氧化氮(NO)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)与伴精索静脉曲张(VC)不育患者精液参数之间的关系。方法:根据体格检查和彩色多普勒超声检查选择伴VC的不育患者(组1,n=53),其中临床型和亚临床型分别为21例和32例;同时选择非VC少弱精子症患者(组2,n=29)和正常生育者(组3,n=28)作对照组。采用硝酸还原法分别测定外周血和精浆中NO含量和NOS活性。用计算机辅助精液分析仪测定VC组患者精子密度、活动精子(a+b级精子)和快速前向运动精子百分率。结果:①组1外周血清NO含量和NOS活性与组2及组3相比差异无显著性(P>0.05),但精浆中NO含量和NOS活性组1明显高于其他两组,差异有显著性(P<0.01和P<0.05)。②组1中,随着曲张的精索静脉内径的增加,外周血清和精浆中NO含量和NOS活性均有所上升,但只有精浆中临床型和亚临床型之间相比差异有显著性(P<0.05)。③组1中,随着精子密度和精子活力的下降,外周血清和精浆中NO含量和NOS活性均有上升趋势,且精子密度≥20×106/ml和≤10×106/ml之间,精子活力≥50%和≤25%之间差异有显著性(P均<0.05)。结论:在VC诊断中精浆中NO含量和NOS活性测定较外周血清中更有意义。早期测定精浆NO含量和NOS活性对VC的诊断和治疗具有重要的临床价值。     

59例双侧附睾梗阻性无精子症精浆α-糖苷酶测定

目的探讨精浆α-1,4葡萄糖苷酶(α-糖苷酶)的来源。方法测定59例双侧附睾梗阻性无精子症者及20例正常对照精浆α-糖苷酶。结果40例正常对照组,31例双附睾头部梗阻,28例双附睾尾部梗阻者精浆α-糖苷酶浓度平均值分别为50.66 U/ml,25.46 U/ml,18.17 U/ml。正常对照组精浆α-糖苷酶浓度高于其他两组,差异有显著性(P<0.001),双附睾头部梗阻较双附睾尾部梗阻α-糖苷酶浓度有下降,但差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论双侧附睾头部、尾部梗阻所致无精子症者精浆中性α-糖苷酶浓度虽有下降,但仍保持一定的浓度,提示精浆α-糖苷酶具有多源性。     

精浆催乳素浓度与精子计数、活动率的关系

对107例男性进行精液分析并测定其精浆催乳素(PRL)浓度,精子活动率和精子密度正常男性的精浆PRL为11.53±5.36ng/ml,与精子活动率正常而少精子的男性相比(13.06±4.62ng/ml),两组间无显著性差异(t=0.91,t>0.2);而精子密度正常、正常精子活率组和低活率组相比,低活率组的精浆PRL水平(17.24 ±5.86ng/ml)明显增高(t=4.15,P<0.001).相关分析表明精浆PRL与精子活动率呈负相关(r=-0.38,P<0.001);与精子密度亦呈负相关(r=-0.37,P<0.001).49例受试者取精液前抽血测定血清PRL水平,精浆PRL水平与血清PRL无关(r=0.204,P>0.1).     

精浆中MIP-1α与TNF-α测定的临床意义

目的:观察巨噬细胞炎性蛋白1α(MIP-1α)与肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)含量在男性不育患者精浆中的变化,以及对精子的影响。方法:应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)与放射免疫分析(RIA)方法分别对110例不育男性和30例生育男性精浆MIP-1α与TNF-α含量进行测定,并与精液中精子浓度、活力、活动率、白细胞含量和血液中抗精子抗体(AsAb)情况进行对比分析。结果:不育症组精浆MIP-1α与TNF-α含量[(179.45±24.54)pg/ml和(4.66±2.01)ng/ml]均明显高于生育组[分别为(89.64±13.27)pg/ml和(2.90±1.23)ng/ml],两者之间均存在显著性差异(P<0.01),而且以少精子症不育症组最为显著。精浆MIP-1α与TNF-α含量在不育症组的精子活力不良组[(196.04±23.54)pg/ml和(5.31±2.47)ng/ml]、活动率下降组[(210.39±21.43)pg/ml和(5.14±2.61)ng/ml]、WBC精液组[(203.14±24.65)pg/ml和(5.28±2.66)ng/ml]和血清AsAb阳性组[(234.05±27.60)pg/ml和(5.63±2.31)ng/ml]中均分别高于精子活力正常组[(154.22±26.38)pg/ml和(3.94±2.09)ng/ml]、活动率正常组[(139.87±27.62)pg/ml和(4.11±2.26)ng/ml]、非WBC精液组[(155.76±21.42)pg/ml和(4.04±2.24)ng/ml]和血清AsAb阴性组[(124.85±23.56)pg/ml和(3.69±2.15)ng/ml],两者之间均存在显著性差异(P<0.05或P<0.01),而且均以血清AsAb阳性组增高最为显著。结论:精浆MIP-1α与TNF-α含量与精子数量和功能之间密切相关,检测精浆MIP-1α与TNF-α含量可以判断男性不育症患者的状态,帮助临床进行有价值的治疗。     

精浆左旋肉碱与精子密度、活力和活动率关系的研究

目的:研究精浆中左旋肉碱浓度与精子密度、活力和活动率的相关性,探讨肉碱在男性不育发病中的作用。方法:分别选取精液常规检查结果为正常、少精、弱精和少弱精的不育患者12、16、20、16例,以液相色谱-质谱/质谱联用技术检测精浆中左旋肉碱浓度,以化学发光免疫分析法检测精浆中睾酮浓度,结果以SPSS15.0行双变量相关分析分析精浆中肉碱浓度与精子密度、活力和活动率的相关性,并以精浆睾酮浓度为控制变量行肉碱与精子密度的偏相关分析。结果:共有64例患者纳入研究,精浆中总肉碱浓度、游离肉碱浓度及酰基肉碱浓度分别为(91.33±40.49)mg/L、(40.89±24.13)mg/L、(50.44±21.90)mg/L;双变量相关分析结果为精浆中总肉碱浓度与精子密度、活力和活动率的相关系数分别为0.637(P<0.001),0.161(P=0.235),0.114(P=0.370),去除少精组后游离肉碱与活力和活动率的相关系数分别为0.325(P=0.024)和0.316(P=0.029);偏相关分析结果显示在剔除睾酮影响后的精子密度与肉碱的相关性仍有显著统计学意义(r=0.641,P<0.001)。结论:精浆中肉碱浓度与精子密度和活力呈正相关,其中与密度的相关性更明显。     

人精浆中性α-糖苷酶活性与精子运动相关性研究

本文用改良精浆中性α-糖苷酶活性测定法和精液自动分析仪测定了40例正常有生育力者和22例经输精管向附睾方向注射0.3～0.5ml/侧鱼肝油酸钠(SM)节育术者的精浆中性α-糖苷酶活性及精子运动的有关指标。结果表明:1.正常人精浆中性α-糖苷酶活性为23.31±15.31mU/ml;SM节育组为4.46±3.79mU/ml,两组之间有高度显著性差别(P相似文献   

生育与不育男性精液常规、精浆蛋白量和血清FSH水平

本文测定了26例正常生育男性和70例不育男性连续两次精液的常规、精浆总蛋白量和血清FSH浓度。按照精子密度,将不育男性分为少精组、无精组和精子密度>40×10~(?)/ml组。观察到不育男性精液液化时间、pH、体积的均数与正常生育男性间差别无显著性,而Ⅱ级+Ⅲ级活动度精子、活动精子、正常形态精子百分率及精浆总蛋白量低于正常生育组。少精组和无精组的血清FSH浓度明显高于正常生育组。精子密度与血清FSH浓度呈负相关。活动精子百分率与正常形态精子百分率呈正相关。     

The effect of chymotrypsin on the determination of total alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma and the correlation between alpha-glucosidase level and semen parameters

To evaluate the effect of chymotrypsin on the examination of alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma, thirty-nine samples of fresh liquefied semen with or without chymotrypsin and forty-eight samples of fresh un-liquefied semen with chymotrypsin were determined for the total alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma. The total alpha-glucosidase level of each sample was assayed by the method of glucose oxidase. The correlations between alpha-glucosidase level and semen parameters, including semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, grade a and b motility and total motility, were analyzed with SPSS 11.0 software. The results showed that chymotrypsin had no effect on seminal alpha-glucosidase activity determination. Chymotrypsin could improve the liquefaction for un-liquefied semen, and there was no significant difference of alpha-glucosidase activity between liquefied and un-liquefied semen samples. There were significantly positive correlations between seminal alpha-glucosidase activity (U/ml) and sperm concentration (r = 0.338, p = 0.015) and between total alpha-glucosidase activity (U/ejaculate) and semen volume (r = 0.677, p = 0.000). However, there was no significant correlation between alpha-glucosidase level (U/ml) and semen volume, pH, sperm motility or grade a and b motility (r = -0.234 approximately 0.077, p = 0.099 approximately 0.993). The data indicated that chymotrypsin could be added into the un-liquefied semen samples for alpha-glucosidase activity determination, and there were different correlations between seminal alpha-glucosidase level and various semen parameters.     

精浆和血清生殖激素与精液质量的关系

目的为了评估精液质量不同的男性精浆和血清生殖激素的浓度与精子浓度及活动力的关系,探索精浆与血清生殖激素的关系。方法对301名男性进行精液检查,按照精液的质量参数将受试对象分成4组:精液正常组(n=176),弱精子症组(n=66),少精子症组(n=40)和非梗阻性无精子症组(n=19)。采用电化学发光免疫法测定各组受试对象血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、泌乳素(PRL)、孕酮(P)、睾酮(T)和雌二醇(E2)六项生殖激素和精浆PRL、T、P和E2四项生殖激素的浓度,比较组间差异并进行相关性分析。结果精液正常组和弱精子症组血清FSH和E2的浓度显著低于少精子症组和非梗阻性无精子症组(P0.05),精液正常组血清LH和P的浓度显著低于弱精子症、少精子症和非梗阻性无精子症的人群(P0.05);而精液正常、弱精子症和少精子症三组精浆PRL的浓度则高于非梗阻性无精子症组(P0.05)。除了非梗阻性无精子症组,受试者血清FSH的浓度与其精子浓度呈负相关(r分别为-0.350、-0.273和-0.448,P0.05)。精液正常组精浆PRL的浓度和精子的浓度之间呈正相关(r=0.269,P0.05);在少精子症组中,亦有相同趋势的相关性(r=0.432,P0.05)。结论精浆PRL及血清FSH的浓度能够反映精子浓度或活动力,在男性不育的病因分析中具有一定的指导价值。     

不育男性精浆总抗氧化能力与精子运动功能的关系

目的:研究不育男性精浆总抗氧化能力(TAC)与精子运动能力和方式之间的关系,探讨精浆TAC水平在男性生育中的临床意义。方法:113例精子密度正常的不育男性,28例正常生育男性作为对照组。精液于37℃液化后采用计算机辅助精液分析(CASA)系统进行精液常规分析,采用比色法进行精浆TAC分析。结果:正常生育组精浆TAC为(19.82±6.33)U,不育男性精子密度正常组精浆TAC为(14.37±8.45)U,不育男性精子密度正常组与正常生育组比较存在显著性差异(P<0.01)。精浆TAC与a级精子百分率(r=0.208,P<0.05)和(a+b)级精子百分率(r=0.231,P<0.05)呈显著正相关,精浆TAC与精子运动参数中的前向性(r=0.200,P<0.05)、直线性(r=0.208,P<0.05)、曲线速度(r=0.189,P<0.05)、直线速度(r=0.210,P<0.05)、平均移动速度(r=0.215,P<0.05)及鞭打频率(r=-0.248,P<0.01)之间有显著的相关性,其中前向性、直线性、直线速度、曲线速度、平均移动速度与TAC呈正相关(P<0.05),而鞭打频率与TAC呈负相关(P<0.01)。精浆TAC与摆动性、侧摆幅度、平均移动角度之间无显著相关。结论:精浆中TAC水平与精子运动能力和运动方式密切相关,适宜的精浆TAC为精子运动提供了良好的外部环境,精浆中过低的TAC水平与精子运动能力下降和运动方式改变有关,可能是引起男性不育的病因之一。精浆中TAC分析可为探讨男性不育的发病机制以及临床用药提供依据。     

Ⅲ型前列腺炎患者精液参数、锌浓度及抗菌活性的变化

目的:探讨Ⅲ型前列腺炎(CP/CPPS)患者精液常规参数、锌浓度及抗菌活性的关系。方法:对60例CP/CPPS患者和20例健康男性进行精液常规参数、锌浓度及抗菌活性的检测。结果:CP/CPPS患者精液液化时间、精子活力、精浆抗菌活性及精浆锌离子浓度与对照组相比,差异有显著性(P均<0.01)。CP/CPPS患者精子活力与精浆锌离子浓度间有显著相关性(r=0.272,P=0.015)。精浆抗菌活性与精浆锌离子浓度间有显著相关性(r=0.449,P<0.01)。结论:CP/CPPS患者精液液化时间延长,精子活力下降,精浆锌浓度和抗菌活性降低。精浆抗菌活性与精浆锌浓度、精子活力间有显著相关性。     

Relationships between seminal plasma arginase activity and spermatological parameters in rams

This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between seminal plasma arginase activity and spermatological parameters in rams. In this study, five fertility-proven Awassi rams were used as material. Six ejaculates were collected from each ram by an artificial vagina. Spermatological parameters (semen volume, mass activity, sperm motility and concentration and abnormal sperm rate) were immediately determined in each ejaculate. For enzyme assay, the semen samples were centrifuged and stored at -20 °C for the analysis of arginase activity. The average seminal plasma arginase activity was 0.61 ± 0.20 U (mg protein)(-1) . There was a positive correlation between arginase activity and semen volume (r = 0.412, P < 0.05), semen mass activity (r = 0.610, P < 0.01), sperm motility (r = 0.447, P < 0.05) and sperm concentration (r = 0.808, P < 0.01). However, there was a negative correlation between arginase activity and abnormal sperm rate (r = -0.424, P < 0.05). In conclusion, this study clearly suggests that there is a significant correlation between seminal plasma arginase activity and spermatological parameters. In light of these results, seminal plasma arginase activity may be a biochemical criterion for determining sperm quality besides classical semen analysis parameters in rams.     

Assessment of seminal plasma laminin in fertile and infertile men

Aim： To assess laminin levels in the seminal plasma of infertile and fertile men, and to analyze the correlation of laminin levels with sperm count, age, sperm motility and semen volume. Methods： One hundred and twenty-five recruited men were equally divided into five groups according to their sperm concentration and clinical examination： fertile normozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA）, obstructive azoospermia （OA） and congenital bilateral absent vas deferens （CBAVD）. The patients＇ medical history was investigated and patients underwent clinical examination, conventional semen analysis and estimation of seminal plasma laminin by radioimmunoassay. Results： Seminal plasma laminin levels of successive groups were： 2.82 ± 0.62, 2.49 ± 0.44, 1.77 ± 0.56, 1.72 ± 0.76, 1.35 ± 0.63 U/mL, respectively. The fertile normozoospermic group showed the highest concentration compared to all infertile groups with significant differences compared to azoospermic groups （P 〈 0.05）. Testicular contribution was estimated to be approximately one-third of the seminal laminin. Seminal plasma laminin demonstrated significant correlation with sperm concentration （r = 0.460, P 〈 0.001） and nonsignificant correlation with age （r = 0.021, P = 0.940）, sperm motility percentage （r = 0.142, P = 0.615） and semen volume （r = 0.035, P = 0.087）. Conelusion： Seminal plasma laminin is derived mostly from prostatic and testicular portions and minimally from the seminal vesicle and vas deferens. Estimating seminal laminin alone is not conclusive in diagnosing different cases of male infertility.     

精浆游离L-肉毒碱水平及其与精子密度、活动率及活力的相关性研究

目的:研究正常生育及不育男性精浆中游离L-肉毒碱水平差异及其与精子密度、活动率(a+b+c级精子百分率)及活力(a+b级精子百分率)之间的相关性,探讨精浆中游离L-肉毒碱水平对男性生育力的影响及其在不育症检查和治疗中的作用。方法:分别采用高效液相色谱法和计算机辅助精液分析系统,测定了230例不育症患者(精子密度正常117例,少精子症81例,无精子症32例)和30例正常生育男性精浆中游离L-肉毒碱水平及精子密度、活动率、活力等参数。根据检查结果对不育症患者分组后,以SPSS12.0软件包进行统计学分析,比较各组间游离L-肉毒碱水平的差异以及游离L-肉毒碱水平与精子密度、活动率、活力之间的相关性。结果:正常生育组精浆游离L-肉毒碱水平明显高于不育组(P<0.01)。精液中精子密度越低、活力越弱,这种差异性越显著。相关性分析结果显示,精浆游离L-肉毒碱水平与精子密度呈显著正相关关系(r=0.521,P<0.01),与精子活动率和活力之间也具有正相关关系(r=0.319,P<0.01;r=0.251,P<0.01)。结论:精浆L-肉毒碱水平与精子密度、活动率和活力之间密切相关,其含量测定作为一项有用的生化指标,可为男性不育症检查及临床诊治和进行有关男性生殖功能机制研究提供参考。     

精浆酸性磷酸酶和γ-L-谷氨酰转肽酶检测的比较及其与精液参数的相关性研究

目的:对精浆酸性磷酸酶(ACP)和γ-L-谷氨酰转肽酶(γ-GT)活性检测进行比较,并分析ACP和γ-GT活性与精液参数的相关性。方法:133例精浆标本,分别检测ACP活性和γ-GT活性。随机留取2例精浆标本,1例用于ACP批内检测,另1例用于γ-GT批内检测。随机留取4例标本,2例用于ACP批间检测,另2例用于γ-GT批间检测。用计算机辅助的精液分析(CASA)系统分析精液标本的精液量、pH、精子密度、活动率、a+b级活动精子百分率等参数。同时分析ACP和γ-GT活性与精液参数的相关性。结果:精浆ACP活性和γ-GT活性呈显著性正相关(r=0.570,P=0.000)。ACP的批内变异系数(CV)为13.72%,批间CV分别为13.80%和15.49%。γ-GT批内CV为7.68%,批间CV分别为7.76%和9.73%。精浆ACP活性和γ-GT活性均与pH值呈显著负相关(r=-0.330,P=0.000;r=-0.388,P=0.000)。γ-GT活性与精子密度呈显著正相关(r=0.165,P=0.045),而ACP活性与精子密度无显著相关(r=0.048,P=0.546)。ACP活性和γ-GT活性均与精子活动率、(a+b)级活动精子百分率、精液量、禁欲时间以及年龄无显著相关性。结论:精浆γ-GT活性检测的精确性高于ACP活性检测,两者与精液参数的相关性基本类似。提示精浆γ-GT活性检测比ACP活性检测更适合用来评价前列腺功能。     

Comparison of zinc concentrations in blood and seminal plasma and the various sperm parameters between fertile and infertile men

The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between concentrations of zinc in blood and seminal plasma and sperm quality among infertile and fertile men. One hundred seven male (infertile group) partners of couples who were undergoing investigation for infertility with no known cause for the infertility and 103 men (fertile group) whose wives were pregnant at the time of the study were recruited. The subjects' blood and seminal plasma concentration of zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Except for semen volume, all the other semen parameters for the infertile men were significantly lower than those for the fertile group. The geometric means of the seminal plasma zinc concentration were significantly lower in the infertile group compared with those in the fertile group; 183.6 mg/L (range, 63-499) versus 274.6 mg/L (range, 55-420). There were no significant differences in the geometric means of the blood zinc concentration between the 2 groups. Seminal plasma zinc concentration was significantly correlated with sperm density (r = 0.341, P < .0001), motility (r = 0.253, P < .0001), and viability (r = 0.286, P < .0001). On the basis of the findings of this study and those of other reports, zinc may contribute to fertility through its positive effect on spermatogenesis.     

Cadmium, lead, selenium, and zinc in semen of occupationally unexposed men

Summary. Concentrations of cadmium, lead, selenium, and zinc were determined in semen and seminal plasma of 22 volunteers by atomic absorption spectrometry. Additionally conventional semen parameters and, by means of computer videomicrography, motion parameters of spermatozoa were evaluated. Concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn determined in semen were not significantly different from those measured in seminal plasma. However, selenium levels were significantly higher in semen (53.8 ± 22.9 μg 1⁻¹) than in seminal plasma (40.4 ± 15.5 μg 1⁻¹, P <0.01). The investigated semen samples on average contained low levels of Cd (0.4 ± 0.23 μg 1⁻¹) and Pb (9.8 ± 6.5 μg 1⁻¹). Studies on the intra-individual variability revealed the following average coefficients of variation (%) for element concentrations: Pb (70), Cd (53), Se (27), and Zn (23); and for semen parameters: total sperm count (46), sperm concentration (37), motility (22), ejaculate volume (21), linearity (19), linear velocity (11), curvilinear velocity (10), and percentage of normally formed sperm (9). Significant positive correlations were detected between semen selenium levels and sperm concentration ( r =0.51, P <0.05), and percentage of normally formed sperm ( r =0.46, P <0.05), respectively. Sperm motility ( r =0.53, P <0.02), linear ( r = 0.76, P <0.001) and curvilinear velocity ( r = 0.64, P < 0.002) were significantly correlated with semen cadmium levels.