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Human Reproduction, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 110-115, 1995
© 1995 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Ascorbic acid and urate in human seminal plasma: determination and interrelationships with chemiluminescence in washed semen

J.J. Thiele, H.J. Freisleben1, J. Fuchs and F.R. Ochsendorf2

Zentrum der Dermatologie und Venerologie, Abteilung II, Universitätsklinikum Theodor Stern Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt/M, Germany 1 Zentrum der Biologischen Chemie, Universitätsklinikum Theodor Stern Kai 7, D-60590 Frankfurt/M, Germany

Correspondence: 2To whom correspondence should be addressed

Peroxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed as one of the major causes of defective sperm function. The ROS detected in semen reflect an imbalance between ROS generation and degradation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the oxidative and anti-oxidative potential in semen of infertile patients and healthy donors. Specimens were obtained from 28 patients and 18 healthy donors (controls). A conventional spermiogram, measurement of luminol-chemiluminescence (CL) in washed semen, and high performance liquid chromatography determination of ascorbic acid and urate concentrations in seminal plasma were performed. Oligozoospermic patients exhibited higher CL signals than controls (P < 0.001). Normozoospermic patients showed lower ascorbic acid (mean ± SE: 491 ± 46 µM, P < 0.04) and urate concentrations (320 ± 22 µM, P < 0.009) than controls (612 ± 35 and 426 ± 26 µM respectively). Seminal plasma ascorbic acid was negatively correlated with the CL signals (P < 0.0006) and positively correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology (P < 0.006). This is the first report of a correlation between the anti-oxidant ascorbic acid in seminal plasma and ROS generation in human semen. Furthermore, the reduced ascorbic acid/urate concentrations found in semen of normozoospermic patients might be indicative of a reduced anti-oxidative protection.

Key words: ascorbic acid/human spermatozoa/male infertility/reactive oxygen species/urate

Submitted on February 8, 1994; accepted on August 8, 1994.


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