title: A regulatory role of sulfhydryl groups in modulation of sperm membrane conformation by heavy metals: sulfhydryl groups as markers for infertility assessment.
abstract: Sperm membrane sulfhydryl groups, when masked by heavy metals like cobalt and copper at very low concentration (10(-9)) shows inhibition of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation is suggested to lead to reduction in membrane fluidity, a prerequisite for normal sperm function. Augmentation of lipid peroxidation by pentoxifylline in oligospermia provides evidence to this hypothesis that membrane sulfhydryls play a regulatory role in membrane modulation. It is therefore suggested that these sulfhydryl groups can be used as a tool for infertility assessment in unexplained male infertility.
authors.affiliation: B. V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Development Centre, Ahemadabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nivsarkar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000502:physiology; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000503:physiopathology; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D003035:Cobalt; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003300:Copper; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010431:Pentoxifylline