Estimate of oxygen consumption and intracellular zinc concentration of human spermatozoa in relation to motility.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the human sperm oxygen/energy consumption and zinc content in relation to motility.


METHODS
In washed spermatozoa from 67 ejaculates, the oxygen consumption was determined. Following calculation of the total oxygen consumed by the Ideal Gas Law, the energy consumption of spermatozoa was calculated. In addition, the zinc content of the sperm was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The resulting data were correlated to the vitality and motility.


RESULTS
The oxygen consumption averaged 0.24 micromol/10(6) sperm x 24h, 0.28 micromol/10(6) live sperm x 24h and 0.85 micromol/10(6) live motile sperm x 24h. Further calculations revealed that sperm motility was the most energy consuming process (164.31 mJ/10(6) motile spermatozoa x 24h), while the oxygen consumption of the total spermatozoa was 46.06 mJ/10(6) spermatozoa x 24h. The correlation of the oxygen/energy consumption and zinc content with motility showed significant negative correlations (r= -0.759; P<0.0001 and r=-0.441; P<0.0001, respectively). However, when correlating sperm energy consumption with the zinc content, a significant positive relation (r=0.323; P=0.01) was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Poorly motile sperm are actually wasting the available energy. Moreover, our data clearly support the "Geometric Clutch Model" of the axoneme function and demonstrate the importance of the outer dense fibers for the generation of sperm motility, especially progressive motility.
Henkel
Ralf R
RR
Center for Dermatology and Andrology, Gaffkystrasse 14, D-35385 Giessen, Germany. ralf.henkel@derma.med.uni-giessen.de
Defosse
Kerstin
K
Koyro
Hans-Wilhelm
HW
Weissmann
Norbert
N
Schill
Wolf-Bernhard
WB
D000328:Adult; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D015032:Zinc