Human Reproduction, Vol 13, 111-114, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
A Carpino, L Siciliano, MF Petroni, C De Stefano, S Aquila, S Ando and MF] Petrone MF$[corrected to Petroni
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.
ARTICLES
Low seminal zinc bound to high molecular weight proteins in asthenozoospermic patients: evidence of increased sperm zinc content in oligoasthenozoospermic patients [published erratum appears in Hum Reprod 1998 Jun;13(6):1750]
Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare, Universita degli Studi della Calabria, Italy.
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