Low seminal zinc bound to high molecular weight proteins in asthenozoospermic patients: evidence of increased sperm zinc content in oligoasthenozoospermic patients

Total seminal zinc concentration, seminal zinc fraction bound to high molecular weight proteins (HMW-Zn%) and zinc content in spermatozoa were assayed in the ejaculates of 90 asthenozoospermic patients subdivided into two study groups: normoasthenozoospermics (group I: n = 50) and oligoasthenozoospe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human reproduction (Oxford) 1998-01, Vol.13 (1), p.111-114
Main Authors: Carpino, A, Siciliano, L, Petroni, M F, De Stefano, C, Aquila, S, Andó, S, Petrone, M F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Birth control
Case-Control Studies
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Molecular Weight
Oligospermia - metabolism
Osmotic Pressure
Semen - metabolism
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility - physiology
Spermatozoa - metabolism
Sterility. Assisted procreation
Zinc - metabolism
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Summary:Total seminal zinc concentration, seminal zinc fraction bound to high molecular weight proteins (HMW-Zn%) and zinc content in spermatozoa were assayed in the ejaculates of 90 asthenozoospermic patients subdivided into two study groups: normoasthenozoospermics (group I: n = 50) and oligoasthenozoospermics (group II: n = 40). The zinc concentrations of patients were compared with those of a control group of donors showing normal semen parameters. All samples were also investigated for their sperm membrane functional integrity by the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS). The results showed normal total zinc concentrations but very low HMW-Zn% values (P < 0.001) in seminal plasma of the two groups of asthenozoospermic patients compared to the controls. Furthermore higher zinc amounts (P < 0.001) were measured in spermatozoa of oligoasthenozoospermic patients compared to group I and to the control group. Oligoasthenozoospermics also displayed a lower HOS score (P < 0.001) compared to the other two groups. These data suggest that the increased unbound seminal zinc could contribute to the decrease of sperm motility in normoasthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic patients. A further impairment in sperm motility could occur in the oligoasthenozoospermic patients where the increase of seminal free zinc was followed by a major zinc uptake by spermatozoa. The higher intrasperm zinc content in these patients could be a reflection of their low sperm membrane functionality.
ISSN:0268-1161
1460-2350
DOI:10.1093/humrep/13.1.111