Heavy metals, biomarkers of oxidative stress and changes in sperm function: A case-control study

Background: Heavy metal-induced oxidative stress has been implicated in abnormalsperm functions and male infertility.Objective: Serum and seminal levels of heavy metals and biomarkers of oxidativestress were compared in fertile and infertile men.Materials and Methods: A total of 130 men aged 20–60 yr comprising 30 azoospermic,50 oligozoospermic, and 50 normozoospermic men were studied. Semen analysiswas done by world health organization guidelines, biomarkers of oxidative stress (totalantioxidant capacity (TAC), total plasma peroxidase (TPP), oxidative stress index (OSI),vitamin C (vit C) and nitric oxide (NO)) and fructose by colorimetry and serum andseminal heavy metals (zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)) by atomicabsorption spectrophotometry.Results: Azoospermic and oligozoospermic men had higher serum and seminalperoxides (TPP, p = 0.00), higher serum heavy metals (Zn, Se, Pb, and Cd (p = 0.01))and lower sperm concentration, %motility, serum and seminal antioxidants (vit C, TAC,NO, GSH (p = 0.01)) compared to normozoospermic men. Higher seminal peroxides(TPP, p = 0.001), heavy metals (Pb and Cd (p = 0.03)) and lower sperm concentration,%motility, and seminal antioxidants (TAC and NO (p = 0.00)) were also observedin azoospermic men compared to oligozoospermic men. Negative correlations wereobserved between seminal fructose and seminal vit C (r = -0.535, p = 0.015), GSH (r =-0.734, p = 0.000), NO (r = -0.714, p = 0.000), Zn (r = -0.774, p = 0.000) and Se (r = -0.719,p = 0.000) only in azoospermic men.Conclusion: Elevated heavy metal levels, increased lipid peroxidation and antioxidantdepletion is associated with abnormal sperm functions in men studied.

کلیدواژه ها:

Heavy metals ، Antioxidants ، Lipid peroxidation ، Oxidative stress ، Sperm function