ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the concentration of zinc inthe blood and seminal plasma with semen parameters between fertile and
infertile males
Methodology: This prospective study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Hayatabad medical complex,
Peshawar. Fifty (50)infertile males, not receiving any treatment and had regularintercourse for 1 yearaged 25-45 years were
selected from HMC. They were divided into 35oligospermia and 15 azoospermic. 35 fertile males were nominatedamongthe
overallresidents and were taken as the control group after their semen analysis was taken as normozoospermic. According to
WHO criteria semen is analyzed. With the help of 5br Serum and seminal plasma zinc were estimated.
Result: There was a significant difference found in serum and seminal levels of zinc in normozoospermic, oligospermia (p less
than 0.05), and azoospermic (p-value less than 0.05) individuals. The correlation of seminal plasma zinc with sperm counts
showed a positive association with the count of sperm and a negative association with motility of sperm in
normozoospermic/oligospermia and a negative association of concentration with pH, and volume, WBC in all groups. No
association was found with the morphology of sperm.
Conclusion: It has been concluded that zinc interfered with fertility by having a considerable impact on many semen
parameters. It suggests that measuring seminal plasma zinc could be useful for diagnosing and treating male infertility.
INTRODUCTION
The impact of infertility has many causes and concerns which rely
on age, gender, lifestyle, and sexual history. Word wide it has
affectedalmost (8% to 12%) and mostly in men half of the cases
arethe only causeor contribute to infertility couples(1,2). Semen
various parameters, trace elements magnesium, calcium,
selenium, zinc,and copper had an important role(3).Among these
elements, zinc was available in the seminal parameter. The
function of zinc inseminal plasma controls the “cell membrane and
nuclear chromatin of spermatozoa”, and antibacterial function
andprotectsdegenerative changes in the testis(4-6). with an
additional role in regulatory of capacitation and acrosome reaction
process(7). It is questionable how zinc relates to the parameters of
semen quality that are usually determined. The study aimedto
evaluate the concentration of zinc in the blood and seminal plasma
with semen parameters between fertile males and infertile.
METHODOLOGY
The study was carried out in the Hayatabad medical complex,
Peshawar, and the Department of Biochemistry. 50 infertile males,
not receiving any treatment, and had regular intercourse for 1 year.
The aged 25-45 years, were selected from HMC. According to
WHO criteria semen is analyzed(8).
To make sure the history was taken from wives who had no
tubal blockage or ovulation disorders. a detailed history and
physical examination were done on both couples. The sperm count
was used to group the infertile subjects oligospermia (35), and
azoospermic (15). The subjects hada sperm count of less than 20
million/ml tooksperm while azoospermichad0 sperm count. The
fertile male n=35 whose partners had conceived within a year and
had a sperm count of more than 20 million/ml with motility of more
than50%, were selected from the overall population and taken as a
control group normospermic.
Semen and serum sampling: After a 3 to 5-day period of
abstinence, semen samples were collected by masturbating into
50 ml polystyrene jars. Following liquefaction, samples underwent
standard examination to evaluate the volume, pH, sperm motility,
sperm count, and morphology of sperm as per WHO
standards.After 15-20 minutes of centrifugation at 2000 rpm, the
seminal plasma was obtained. When ready to be utilized for the
zinc assay, the supernatant was transferred into new tubes and
kept at -20°C.After receiving informed consent, 5 ml of blood were
collected from each patient in the morning after an 8-hour period
fast. Following centrifugation, serum was stored frozen at 20°C
until the zinc content was determined. Zinc levels in serum and
seminal plasma were determined using the 5-Br PAPS colorimetric
method using a kit provided by Spinreact SA Spain. Based This
element is estimated based on the theory that zinc reacts with a
particular complexant, 5-Br PAPS, to create a persistent
color complexamount of zinc in the sample has a direct
relationship with the color intensity. Statistics were used to
examine the results using SPSS version 20
RESULTS
The mean and standard deviation of each parameter is shown
±,and the significant values are shown between each group i-e
azoospermic,oligospermia, and control groups normospermic.
As shown in table 1: (Serum and seminal Zn) the levels were
statistically significant in infertile subject oligospermia and
azoospermicthan fertile males normozoospermic, fertile males(less
than 0.05, less than 0.01 respectively). In table 2, sperm count in
oligospermia shows a positive association between seminal
plasma zinc concentration and volume, pH, sperm motility & WBC
concentration in oligospermia& azoospermic groups showa
negative association. In table 3 there was no statistically significant
association of Zndetected with seminal plasma Zn concentration
and various semen variables.
TableI 1: Three categories of seminal plasma and blood zinc concentrations.
The data are shown as mean SEM.
Parameters Normospermia Oligospermic Azoospermia
Total no. (15) (35) (15)
Serum zinc
Concentration
90.70±4.10 80 .20±5.30″
66.45±2.93″”
Seminal plasma
ZINC concentration
7.50±1.50 6.50±1.60″
4.65±0.33″”
(” P<0.05oligospermia are comparable to normosperms.)
(“”P<0.001 azoospermic group comparable with normospermic.)
Table 2: Seminal plasma zinc concentration and semen parameters’
correlation coefficient (r)
Various Parameters Control subject Oligospermic Azoospermia
Total no. (35) (35) (15)
Volume. 1.40 1.50ʳʳ 1.50 ʳ
Ph. 1.30 1.60ʳʳ 1.50
Sperm count. 1.4 1.50ʳʳ 1
Sperm morphology. 1.10 1.10 1
Motility. 1.30 -1.50ʳʳ 1
WBC(HPF). 1.20 -1.50ʳʳ -1.60ʳʳ
“ʳpless than 0.05”
“ʳʳp less than 0.01”
Table 3: Seminal plasma zinc concentration and semen parameters’
correlation coefficient (r)
Various parameters Control subject Oligospermic Azoospermia
Total subjects (35) (35) (15)
Volume. 1.10 1.20 1.30
pH. 1.220 1.10 1.20
Sperm count. 1.010 1.20 1
Sperm morphology. 1.70 1.20 1
Motility. 1.20 1.10 1
WBC per HPF. 1.21 1.10 1.37
Seminal Plasma Zn. 1.40 1.40 1.11
DISCUSSIONS
In this research, oligospermia and azoospermic men had very low
zinc levels in their serum and seminal plasma. Other research
have reported similar outcomes(9, 10). Additionally, our findings
conflict with those of several studies(11, 12)
In the current investigation, it was discovered that the
seminal plasma zinc in infertile males had a negative correlation
with the volume and pH of the semen. These findings conflict with
some studies(13) while correlating with others(14). During
ejaculation, sperm cells are released along with acidic prostatic
fluid, which contains zinc, citric, and acid phosphatase to produce
the acidic pH in the initial fraction. The subsequent fraction
contains fewer sperm and is primarily made up of an alkaline
vesicular fluid that is high in fructose and high molecular weight
ligands that originate from seminal vesicles(14).
The pH would be either elevated or lowered, depending on
whether the prostate gland or seminal vesicle is aberrant. The
seminal plasma zinc content and the sperm count showed a strong
positive connection. These findings both go against many research
findings (15-18) and support a few of them(19).
Adult males who were experimentally denied zinc displayed
impaired testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells, according to a
clinical investigation(20). Since zinc is essential for the 5á
reductase enzyme, which transforms testosterone into the
physiologically active form of “5á dihydrotestosterone”(20).
There was no relationship between seminal plasma zinc
content and sperm morphology. Comparable results from previous
investigations support this one(21).
In oligospermic patients, it was discovered that sperm
motility was inversely connected with seminal plasma zinc levels,
which contrasts with the findings of various studies(22, 23) and is
consistent with other research that has produced comparable
findings.(24).
In this research, a strong inverse relationship between WBC
and seminal plasma zn concentration was discovered. Because
Trichomonas vaginalis is easily destroyed by zinc concentrations
found in healthy men’s prostatic fluid, the prostatic zinc may have
antibacterial properties. 6 Serum zinc levels did not significantly
correlate with seminal plasma zinc levels or other semen
characteristics. A few additional studies also produced similar
results(25).
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of this and previous investigations, seminal
zinc may influence numerous semen properties, hence influencing
fertility. It appears that measuring seminal plasma zinc could be
useful for diagnosing and treating male infertility.
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