[Trace elements and sperm parameters in semen of male partners of infertile couples].
OBJECTIVE
The relationships between element concentrations and sperm parameters in semen samples were investigated.


METHODS
Semen samples (n = 113) were donated voluntarily by male partners of infertile couples. The concentrations of fourteen elements (Na, K, P, Ca, Zn, Mg, Fe, Cu, Se, Mn, Sn, Co, Ni, and Cd) in semen were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, fluorometry, or colorimetry. Element concentrations in seminal plasma and in sperm were also measured.


RESULTS
Element concentrations in semen were in the order Na > P, K > Ca > Zn > Mg > > Fe> Cu, Se > Mn > Sn, Ni, Co, Cd. When the samples were divided into two groups in terms of sperm concentration and number, the Se concentration in semen with normal parameter values (sperm concentration > or = 20 x 10(6) and sperm number > or = 40 x 10(6)), 99.4 +/- 37.4 ng/ml, was higher than that in semen with abnormal parameter values (sperm concentration < or = 20 x 10(6) and/or sperm number < or = 40 x 10(6)), 72.1 +/- 33.9 ng/ml (p < 0.001). A clearer positive correlation between the Se concentration and the sperm concentration was observed in the sperm portion (r = 0.853, p < 0.001) than in semen (r = 0.512, p < 0.001) and seminal plasma (r = 0.292, p = 0.003). Statistically significant correlations were also observed between the concentration of Se, P, Zn, Cu, Fe, or Mn in semen, the sperm portion or seminal plasma and the sperm concentration, semen volume or abnormal morphology, although correlation coefficients were small.


CONCLUSIONS
Among biologically essential elements in semen of infertile males, Se was a good indicator of sperm concentration; however, other trace elements did not indicate clear relationships between their concentrations and sperm parameters.
Shinohara
Atsuko
A
Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Junte University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113 8421, Japan. atsukos@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Chiba
Momoko
M
Takeuchi
Hiroyuki
H
Kinoshita
Katsuyuki
K
Inaba
Yutaka
Y
D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium