title: Antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma measured by TAS Randox.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in sperm and antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma has been linked to male infertility. The antioxidant power of biological fluids can be evaluated either by measurement of individual antioxidants or total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The aim of this study was to assess whether TAS Randox can also be used for seminal plasma antioxidant capacity estimation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Freshly thawed aliquots of seminal plasma and blood serum of 38 males from infertile couples and 24 healthy normospermic controls were simultaneously assayed using TAS Randox reagents on the Hitachi Modular P800 Analyzer. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO guidelines. ROS in fresh sperm suspension in phosphate buffered saline was measured by chemiluminescence immediately after separation of seminal plasma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Semen analysis showed that in our study group only 14 males were normospermic and 24 males had mostly combined pathologies. The medians for ROS production were similar in both the study and the control groups (4850 and 5450 RLU/min, resp). Seminal plasma TAS levels were significantly lower (p<0.02) in the study group while blood serum TAS levels were similar in both groups. A significant positive correlation (p<0.05) between TAS in seminal plasma and serum was found, seminal plasma levels being on average 1.4 times higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TAS Randox kit may be used for clinical studies intended to identify decreased antioxidant power in the seminal fluid of infertile men.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Fingerova
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Novotny
authors: Jiri
authors: J
authors: Barborik
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Brezinova
authors: Magda
authors: M
authors: Svobodova
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Krskova
authors: Ivana
authors: I
authors: Oborna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic