Values of sperm thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance in fertile men.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to establish for the first time reference levels of sperm malondialdehyde, a stable lipid peroxidation product, in a cohort of fertile men.


METHODS
Sperm malondialdehyde, a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, was assayed using the 2-thiobarbituric acid method.


RESULTS
Sperm malondialdehyde levels, expressed in nM/10(8) spermatozoa, were normally distributed in our cohort of fertile men and averaged 0.0287 +/- 0.0162 (mean +/- S.D.).


CONCLUSIONS
Given the impact of lipid peroxidation on spermatozoa and thereby on male fertility, the assay of sperm membrane thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance is clearly of interest. Malondialdehyde levels found in our study form a basis for normal values of sperm thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance observed in the semen of fertile men.
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D012016:Reference Values; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D013858:Thiobarbiturates; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000592:standards*
D013858:Thiobarbiturates; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C029684:thiobarbituric acid