The concentration of nitrite in seminal plasma does not correlate with sperm concentration, sperm motility, leukocytospermia, or sperm culture.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate the concentration of nitrite (the stable metabolite of nitric oxide) in seminal plasma with sperm number and motility, leukocytospermia, and sperm culture.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Academic research institution.


METHODS
Seventy normozoospermic or dyspermic men enrolled in an artificial insemination/in vitro fertilization program.


METHODS
Semen samples (n = 70) were checked for sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, seminal leukocyte concentration, and sperm culture; similarly, the concentration of nitrite in seminal plasma was measured by Griess reaction.


METHODS
Measurement of nitrite concentration in seminal plasma and its correlation with sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, leukocytospermia, and sperm culture.


RESULTS
The concentration of nitrite in seminal plasma does not correlate with sperm concentration, total sperm count, or with the proportion of immotile or rapid-forward motile spermatozoa. Moreover, the concentration of nitrite in seminal plasma is not significantly increased when sperm culture is positive, nor does it correlate with leukocyte concentration in semen.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results do not support the hypothesis that in vivo nitric oxide synthesis affects sperm function; alternatively, our results could suggest that nitrite in the seminal plasma is not a sensitive marker of in vivo nitric oxide synthesis.
Revelli
A
A
Department of Obstetrical and Gynecological Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy. dario.ghigo@unito.it
Bergandi
L
L
Massobrio
M
M
Lindblom
B
B
Bosia
A
A
Ghigo
D
D
D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis*; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
D009573:Nitrites