Pmn-22: The Effect of Zinc on Semen Quality

Background: Zinc in human semen seems to play an important role in the physiology of spermatozoa. Zinc deficiency leads to gonadal dysfunction, decreases testicular weight, and causes shrinkage of seminiferous tubules. The adult human body contains 1-3 g of zinc, about 0.1% of which is replenished daily. Excessively high amounts of zinc has been reported in human seminal plasma by many authors, the mean ranges from 78.9 to 274.6 mg/L. The major contributor of seminal plasma zinc is the prostate gland . This high concentration of prostatic zinc ions comes into contact with sperm after their functional maturation. On the other hand, the seminal zinc ions get diluted by the vaginal and cervical fluids immediately after ejaculation. Therefore, it is not clear as to how this high zinc level in seminal plasma affects the sperm function. Zinc has also been reported to be the primary factor responsible for the antibacterial activity of the seminal plasma. It has suggested that zinc may have a role in sperm production and/or viability, in the prevention of spermatozoa degradation, and in sperm membrane stabilization Although some beneficial effects of zinc on semen have been accepted, controversies continue regarding zinc levels between different subfertile groups as well as the relationship between zinc and semen parameters. The aim of this review study, therefore, was to examine the relationships between concentrations of zinc in blood and seminal plasma and sperm quality among infertile and fertile men. Materials and Methods: This review article prepared by studdying of articles obtained from Google, pub med sites with key words such as : zinc ; infertility semen quality. Results: Dissanayake (2010) studied semen parameters of 152 healthy men To assess the relationship between seminal plasma zinc and semen quality using two markers; zinc concentration (Zn-C) and total zinc per ejaculate (Zn-T). The results show Count, motility, viability, pH and viscosity are affected by variations of seminal plasma zinc. Zn-C was significantly high in the asthenozoospermics compared with the normal motile group; 138.11 μg/mL (83.92) vs. 110.69 11 μg/mL (54.59) (p<0.05). Zn-T was significantly low in samples with hyperviscosity compared with samples with normal viscosity; 220.06 μg (144.09) vs. 336.34 μg (236.33) (p<0.05). Conversely, Zn-T was high in samples with low viability compared with those with normal viability; 437.67 μg (283.88) vs. 305.15 μg (221.19) (p<0.05) there was a negative correlation between pH and Zn-C (r=-0.193, p<0.05) as well as Zn-T (r=-0.280, p<0.01). On the other hand, correlations were positive between Zn-T and sperm count (r=0.211, p<0.05) Zhao and Xiong (2005) studied 90 asthenozoospermic patients, 60 oligoasthenozoospermic patients and 20 fertile men with normal sperm quality and found that a positive relationship between the feebleness of sperm production and motility of asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic patients and the lower content of seminal plasma zinc . Colagar et al. (2010) assess the relationship between Zn levels in seminal plasma with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men. Semen samples were provided by fertile [smoker (n = 17), nonsmoker (n = 19)] and infertile men [smoker (n = 15), nonsmoker (n = 21)]. Fertile subjects, smoker or not, demonstrated significantly higher seminal Zn levels than any infertile group (p<0.001). A trend was observed for a lower Zn levels in seminal plasma of smokers compared with nonsmokers. Seminal Zn in fertile and infertile (smokers or nonsmokers) males correlated significantly with sperm count (p<0.01) and normal morphology of sperm (p<0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, the andrological variables sensitive to seminal plasma zinc. There is a positive relationship between the feebleness of sperm production and motility of asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic patients and the lower content of seminal plasma zinc .