Comparison of individual antioxidants of sperm and seminal plasma in fertile and infertile men.
OBJECTIVE
To measure individual antioxidants in sperm and seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men to determine if any particular antioxidant is reduced in infertile men.


METHODS
Semen samples were prepared by a discontinuous Percoll gradient to separate sperm and seminal plasma, and the antioxidant concentrations of each were assessed. Samples also were screened for phorbol ester-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity.


METHODS
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Clinical Biochemistry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.


METHODS
Fifty-nine male patients attending our infertility center: 18 men whose wives had ongoing pregnancies from IVF with normozoospermic semen profiles, 20 infertile men with normozoospermic and 21 men with asthenozoospermic semen profiles.


METHODS
Ascorbate, urate, sulphydryl groups, tocopherol and carotenoid concentrations were measured in sperm and seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men.


RESULTS
In seminal plasma, ascorbate contributes almost twice as much as urate and thiol levels are about one third of ascorbate. Ascorbate levels in seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic individuals (+ROS) are significantly reduced. In sperm, thiols contributed most and ascorbate only a fraction of the total.


CONCLUSIONS
In seminal plasma, ascorbate, urates, and thiols are the major antioxidants present. In contrast, within sperm, this group is the major contributor. In samples exhibiting ROS activity, ascorbate concentrations in the seminal plasma are significantly reduced.
Lewis
S E
SE
Queen's University of Belfast Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Sterling
E S
ES
Young
I S
IS
Thompson
W
W
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis
D000975:Antioxidants; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D014527:Uric Acid; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid