@2024 Afarand., IRAN
ISSN: 2251-8215 Sarem Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2017;1(2):59-62
ISSN: 2251-8215 Sarem Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2017;1(2):59-62
Carnitine, Fructose and Zinc Levels in Seminal Plasma of Unexplained Asthenospermic Patients Compared with Normal Individuals
ARTICLE INFO
Article Type
Original ResearchAuthors
Saremi A.T. (*)Khamesian M. (1)
Marmazi F. (1)
(*) “Sarem Fertility & Infertility Research Center (SAFIR)” and “Sarem Cell Research Center (SCRC)”, Sarem Women’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran
(1) Sarem Women’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence
Article History
Received: January 15, 2016Accepted: May 14, 2016
ePublished: June 15, 2017
ABSTRACT
Aims
Unexplained asthenospermia is one of the most important causes of male infertility. Biochemical parameters of seminal plasma are useful in diagnosis of this cause of infertility. Three parameters including carnitine, fructose and zinc can indicate the function of epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate, respectively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the carnitine, fructose and zinc levels in seminal plasma of unexplained asthenospermic patients compared with normal individuals.
Materials & Methods In this case-control study, we measured the level of carnitine, fructose and zinc in seminal plasma of 43 unexplained asthenospermic patients (case group) and 37 normal men (control group). Data and demographic characteristics of the patients were collected through a questionnaire. In addition to sperm counts, sperm motility was also evaluated in semen samples. The levels of Zinc, fructose and carnitine were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Findings There were no significant differences in mean fructose and zinc concentrations in seminal plasma between patient and control groups (p>0.05). Mean concentration of carnitine in the patient and control groups were 181.78±70.14 nmol/ml and 218.22±58.51 nmol/ml, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.015). Carnitine concentration was positively related to total motility (p=0.001) and progressive sperm motility (p=0.001), while there were no significant relationships between zinc and fructose concentrations and sperm motility (p>0.05).
Conclusion Reduction of carnitine in unexplained asthenospermic patients due to epididymal disfunction may be the cause of poor sperm motility
Materials & Methods In this case-control study, we measured the level of carnitine, fructose and zinc in seminal plasma of 43 unexplained asthenospermic patients (case group) and 37 normal men (control group). Data and demographic characteristics of the patients were collected through a questionnaire. In addition to sperm counts, sperm motility was also evaluated in semen samples. The levels of Zinc, fructose and carnitine were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Findings There were no significant differences in mean fructose and zinc concentrations in seminal plasma between patient and control groups (p>0.05). Mean concentration of carnitine in the patient and control groups were 181.78±70.14 nmol/ml and 218.22±58.51 nmol/ml, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.015). Carnitine concentration was positively related to total motility (p=0.001) and progressive sperm motility (p=0.001), while there were no significant relationships between zinc and fructose concentrations and sperm motility (p>0.05).
Conclusion Reduction of carnitine in unexplained asthenospermic patients due to epididymal disfunction may be the cause of poor sperm motility
CITATION LINKS
[1]Freeman EW, Boxer AS, Rickels K, Tureck R, Mastroianni L. Psychological evaluation and support in a program of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 1985;43(1):48-53.
[2]Zavos PM, Abou-Abdallah M, Aslanis P, Correa JR, Zarmakoupis-Zavos PN. Use of the Multi-ZSC one-step standardized swim-up method: Recovery of high-quality spermatozoa for intrauterine insemination or other forms of assisted reproductive technologies. Fertil Steril. 2000;74(4):834-5.
[3]Chen ZJ. Clinical progress in gynecologic reproductive endocrinology. Zhonghua fu chan ke za zhi. 2009;44(9):655-7. [Chinese]
[4]Hanash KA. Book review: Campbell's urology, 7th ed. Ann Saudi med. 1998;18(6):570-1.
[5]Carpino A, Sisci D, Aquila S, Salerno M, Siciliano L, Sessa M, et al. Adnexal gland secretion markers in unexplained asthenozoospermia. Arch Androl. 1994;32(1):37-43.
[6]Check DJ, Check JH, Bollendorf A. Fresh versus frozen seminal plasma for enhancing sperm motility in asthenozoospermic males. Arch Androl. 1991;26(2):79-81.
[7]Karacagil M, Sade M, TÜRkyilmaz RK. The effect of zinc, arginine, fructose and seminal supernatant of normal semen on the triple adenosine triphosphatase activities of the spermatozoa from males with oligoasthenozoospermia. Andrologia. 1985;17(4):383-8.
[8]Pruneda A, Yeung CH, Bonet S, Pinart E, Cooper TG. Concentrations of carnitine, glutamate and myo-inositol in epididymal fluid and spermatozoa from boars. Anim Reprod Sci. 2007;97(3-4):344-55.
[9]Jeulin C, Lewin LM. Role of free L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine in post-gonadal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa. Hum Reprod Update. 1996;2(2):87-102.
[10]Kobayashi D, Tamai I, Sai Y, Yoshida K, Wakayama T, Kido Y, et al. Transport of carnitine and acetylcarnitine by carnitine/organic cation transporter (OCTN) 2 and OCTN3 into epididymal spermatozoa. Reproduction. 2007;134(5):651-8.
[11]Andrade-Rocha FT. Seminal fructose levels in male infertility: Relationship with sperm characteristics. Int Urol Nephrol. 1999;31(1):107-11.
[12]Henkel R, Bittner J, Weber R, Huther F, Miska W. Relevance of zinc in human sperm flagella and its relation to motility. Fertil Steril. 1999;71(6):1138-43.
[13]Andrews JC, Nolan JP, Hammerstedt RH, Bavister BD. Role of zinc during hamster sperm capacitation. Biol Reprod. 1994;51(6):1238-47.
[14]Colagar AH, Marzony ET, Chaichi MJ. Zinc levels in seminal plasma are associated with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men. Nutr Res. 2009;29(2):82-8.
[15]Bjorndahl L, Kjellberg S, Kvist U. Ejaculatory sequence in men with low sperm chromatin-zinc. Int J Androl. 1991;14(3):174-8.
[16]Srivastava A, Chopra SK, Dasgupta PR. Biochemical analysis of human seminal plasma. I. Fructose, ascorbate, cholesterol, adenosine triphosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase. Andrologia. 1983;15(5):431-5.
[17]Matalliotakis I, Koumantaki Y, Evageliou A, Matalliotakis G, Goumenou A, Koumantakis E. L-carnitine levels in the seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men: Correlation with sperm quality. Int J Fertil Womens Med. 2000;45(3):236-40.
[18]Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, Bruns DE. Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry. 6th ed. Amsterdam: Saunders Elsevier. 2008. P.976.
[19]Li K, Li W, Huang YF, Shang XJ. Level of free L-carnitine in human seminal plasma and its correlation with semen quality. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2007;13(2):143-6.
[2]Zavos PM, Abou-Abdallah M, Aslanis P, Correa JR, Zarmakoupis-Zavos PN. Use of the Multi-ZSC one-step standardized swim-up method: Recovery of high-quality spermatozoa for intrauterine insemination or other forms of assisted reproductive technologies. Fertil Steril. 2000;74(4):834-5.
[3]Chen ZJ. Clinical progress in gynecologic reproductive endocrinology. Zhonghua fu chan ke za zhi. 2009;44(9):655-7. [Chinese]
[4]Hanash KA. Book review: Campbell's urology, 7th ed. Ann Saudi med. 1998;18(6):570-1.
[5]Carpino A, Sisci D, Aquila S, Salerno M, Siciliano L, Sessa M, et al. Adnexal gland secretion markers in unexplained asthenozoospermia. Arch Androl. 1994;32(1):37-43.
[6]Check DJ, Check JH, Bollendorf A. Fresh versus frozen seminal plasma for enhancing sperm motility in asthenozoospermic males. Arch Androl. 1991;26(2):79-81.
[7]Karacagil M, Sade M, TÜRkyilmaz RK. The effect of zinc, arginine, fructose and seminal supernatant of normal semen on the triple adenosine triphosphatase activities of the spermatozoa from males with oligoasthenozoospermia. Andrologia. 1985;17(4):383-8.
[8]Pruneda A, Yeung CH, Bonet S, Pinart E, Cooper TG. Concentrations of carnitine, glutamate and myo-inositol in epididymal fluid and spermatozoa from boars. Anim Reprod Sci. 2007;97(3-4):344-55.
[9]Jeulin C, Lewin LM. Role of free L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine in post-gonadal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa. Hum Reprod Update. 1996;2(2):87-102.
[10]Kobayashi D, Tamai I, Sai Y, Yoshida K, Wakayama T, Kido Y, et al. Transport of carnitine and acetylcarnitine by carnitine/organic cation transporter (OCTN) 2 and OCTN3 into epididymal spermatozoa. Reproduction. 2007;134(5):651-8.
[11]Andrade-Rocha FT. Seminal fructose levels in male infertility: Relationship with sperm characteristics. Int Urol Nephrol. 1999;31(1):107-11.
[12]Henkel R, Bittner J, Weber R, Huther F, Miska W. Relevance of zinc in human sperm flagella and its relation to motility. Fertil Steril. 1999;71(6):1138-43.
[13]Andrews JC, Nolan JP, Hammerstedt RH, Bavister BD. Role of zinc during hamster sperm capacitation. Biol Reprod. 1994;51(6):1238-47.
[14]Colagar AH, Marzony ET, Chaichi MJ. Zinc levels in seminal plasma are associated with sperm quality in fertile and infertile men. Nutr Res. 2009;29(2):82-8.
[15]Bjorndahl L, Kjellberg S, Kvist U. Ejaculatory sequence in men with low sperm chromatin-zinc. Int J Androl. 1991;14(3):174-8.
[16]Srivastava A, Chopra SK, Dasgupta PR. Biochemical analysis of human seminal plasma. I. Fructose, ascorbate, cholesterol, adenosine triphosphatase and lactic dehydrogenase. Andrologia. 1983;15(5):431-5.
[17]Matalliotakis I, Koumantaki Y, Evageliou A, Matalliotakis G, Goumenou A, Koumantakis E. L-carnitine levels in the seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men: Correlation with sperm quality. Int J Fertil Womens Med. 2000;45(3):236-40.
[18]Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, Bruns DE. Tietz Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry. 6th ed. Amsterdam: Saunders Elsevier. 2008. P.976.
[19]Li K, Li W, Huang YF, Shang XJ. Level of free L-carnitine in human seminal plasma and its correlation with semen quality. Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2007;13(2):143-6.