[Comparison of sperm parameters between male adults at different altitudes].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of long-term anoxic exposure on the sperm function of male adults at different altitudes.


METHODS
A total of 28 male adults that had stayed at the altitude of 5 340 m for 1-3 years were included as a high-altitude group (HAG), 34 at the mean altitude of 3 800 m for 2-5 years as a middle-altitude group (MAG) and 31 permanently at the altitude of 1 300 m as controls. Semen specimens were collected and the real-time semen analysis was performed by using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system.


RESULTS
The sperm density, VCL, VSL, VAP and LIN in the HAG were (51.12 +/- 14.61) x 10(6)/ ml, (48.17 +/- 13. 52) microm/s, (32.64 +/- 6.70) microm/s, (41.21 +/- 9.32) microm/s and 52.24 +/- 8.14, respectively, significantly lower than those of the control (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, there was a progressive decrease in sperm concentration, sperm motility rate, VSL, VCL, LIN, VAP and ALH in the MAG.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher the altitude, the more obvious was the negative effect of anoxic exposure on the sperm function of male adults.
Yu
Liang-kuan
LK
PLA Technical Instruction Center for Birth Control and Birth Health, Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Command, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830000, China.
Gui
Jun-hao
JH
Feng
Jing
J
Hu
Bian
B
Huang
Guo-xiang
GX
Wang
Zheng
Z
Wang
Rui
R
Yu
Wu-zhong
WZ
Qiu
Dong-hui
DH
D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D035061:Control Groups; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*