Relationship between standard semen parameters, calcium, cholesterol contents, and mitochondrial activity in ejaculated spermatozoa from fertile and infertile males.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate levels of cholesterol (CH), calcium (Ca2+), and mitochondrial activity (MA) with the standard semen parameters and to compare them between fertile and infertile men.


METHODS
We studied 151 semen samples from infertile (n = 60) or fertile (n = 91) males. Basic sperm parameters were analyzed. Ca2+ and CH concentrations on seminal plasma were determined by enzymoimmunoanalysis. Intracellular Ca2+ and CH concentrations in the sperm plasma membrane and mitochondrial activity by fluorometry.


RESULTS
There was a significant positive correlation between sperm membrane CH and sperm morphology. Intracellular Ca2+ was lower in infertile patients compared to fertile. No differences were found regarding Ca2+ and CH concentrations in seminal plasma. MA is directly and strongly related with sperm motility.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ and the proportion of CH in the sperm membrane are two important markers of the sperm quality due to its direct relationship with sperm morphology and fertility potential.
Meseguer
Marcos
M
IVI Valencia, Valencia, Spain. marcos.meseguer@ivi.es
Garrido
Nicolás
N
Martínez-Conejero
Jose Antonio
JA
Simón
Carlos
C
Pellicer
Antonio
A
Remohí
Jose
J
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004542:Ejaculation; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism
D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium