Abstract
Background and Objectives: It has been reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may influence the morphology and motility of spermatozoa and its passage to oocyte. Enzymatic and non- enzymatic compounds act as cell defence barrier against oxidation, especially lipid peroxidation. In this study the rate of lipid oxidation and the levels of non- enzymatic antioxidant compounds were measured in semen fluid and spermatozoa and their diagnostic values were evaluated.
Materials and methods: In this single- blind study from the partners referred to infertility centere of alzahra hospital, Tabriz, IRAN, forthy normozoospermic fertile males and sixthy asthenozoospermic infertile males were selected. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the semen fluid and spermatozoa were measured by thiobarbituric reaction (yagi) and dosage of vit. C by 2, 4- Dinitrophenyl Hydrazine method. The concentrations of vit. E in the samples were determined using HPLC by B. L. Lee method. Lysate of spermatozoa was prepared by continuous freezing and thawing procedure. The motility and morphology of the spermatozoa were evaluated on the basis of WHO suggestion.
Results: The levels of MDA in semen fluid and spermatozoa in the asthenozoospermic infertile males were higher than those in normozoospermic fertile males (P<0.001). The concentration of vit. C in plasma semen of fertile males was higher than that of infertile males (P<0.001) but comparing with fertile males its concentration in the spermatozoa of infertile males was higher (P<0.001).
Specificity, sensitivity and positive, negative predictive values of semen plasma MDA (95% , 86% , 91% and 93% respectively) and spermatozoa MDA ( 90%, 83%, 90% and 87% respectively) were more than those of antioxidant vitamins and diagnostic value of spermatozoa vit. C was higher than those of semen plasma vit. C and vit. E.
Conclusion: Simultaneous measurement of the levels of MDA in Semen plasma and spermatozoa and vit. C in spermatozoa may be helpful in the diagnosis of asthenozoospermic infertile males.