title: Synergetic Effects of K, Ca, Cu and Zn in Human Semen in Relation to Parameters Indicative of Spontaneous Hyperactivation of Spermatozoa.
abstract: We have observed that sperm quality parameters indicative of spermatozoa hyperactivation such are lower "linearity" and "straightness", and as showed by this research "elongation", were more pronounced in patients with normal spermiogram compared to the group of men with reduced sperm motility who were undergoing routine in vitro fertilisation. The research encompassed 97 men diagnosed with normozoospermia (n = 20), asthenozoospermia (n = 54) and oligoasthenozoospermia (n = 23). The findings indicate that sperm quality of patients with normal spermiogram diagnosed according to WHO criteria, may be compromised by showing premature spontaneous hyperactivation which can decrease the chances of natural conception. We assessed synergistic effects of multiple chemical elements in ejaculated semen to find if premature spontaneous hyperactivation of spermatozoa can be a sign of imbalanced semen composition especially of elements K, Ca, Cu and Zn. Human semen samples showing low or high baseline status of chemical elements concentrations were found in samples from all three diagnostic groups. However, correlation of K/Ca and Cu/Zn ratios, taking into account samples from all three groups of men, were negative at statistical significance level p = 0.01. We tested if the negative correlation between K/Ca and Cu/Zn ratio works for greater number of semen samples. We found the negative correlation to be valid for 175 semen samples at statistical significance of p = 0.00002. The ratio of K/Ca and Cu/Zn, i.e. increased concentrations of K and Zn in comparison to concentrations of Ca and Cu, were associated with a decrease of "straightness" in the group of men with normal spermiogram and pronounced spontaneous hyperactivation of spermatozoa, implying that these elements act in synergy and that the balance of elements and not their absolute concentrations plays the major role in premature spermatozoa hyperactivation in ejaculated semen.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Centre "Sestre milosrdnice", Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vinogradska c. 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bolanca
authors.affiliation: Ruder Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jasmina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Obhodas
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Centre "Sestre milosrdnice", Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vinogradska c. 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ljiljak
authors.affiliation: Ruder Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Lidija
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matjacic
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Centre "Sestre milosrdnice", Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Vinogradska c. 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Krunoslav
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuna
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology*; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium