title: Influence of chemical elements on mammalian spermatozoa.
abstract: Exposure to heavy metals is the most important           risk factor in the assessment of spermatogenesis.           About 30-40 % cases of infertility are caused           by the male factor, and most of them are due to the           small quantity of spermatozoa or to inferior spermatozoa           quality. The negative impact on sperm motility,           morphology and concentration of such chemical elements           as Al, Cr, Cd, Pb or Fe was observed, while           positive influence was noticed for Zn, Mg, and Ca.           The influence of Mn, Cu, Ni or Se on spermatozoa is           ambiguous. Chemical elements known as necessary           for capacitation and acrosome reaction are Zn, Mg           and Ca, while Cd and Pb disturb initiation and progress           of the acrosome reaction. The positive effect of           chemical elements Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn,           lies in their protection against oxidative stress. On           the other hand, Al, Cu and Ni induce structural           changes in the testes and epididymis or influence interactions           with other chemical elements.
authors.affiliation: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Marzec-Wróblewska
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamiński
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lakota
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy