Significance of Zn and Se Levels in Seminal Plasma and Blood Plasma in Male Infertile Patients

Park, Young Soo; Park, Nam Cheol

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) and Selenium (Se) were analysed in seminal and blood plasmas from 60 male infertility group and 10 normal control group. The concentrations of Zn and Se were estimated by atomic absorbance spectrophotometry (AAS, Smith-hieftje-4000, Thermo-Jarrel-Ash, USA). Seminal plasma Zn and Se in control group and infertility group were 146.3 +/- 41.5 microgram/ml, 152.4+/-61.4 microgram/ml and 0.074+/-0.03 microgram/ml, 0.068+/-0.03 microgram/ml, respectively. Blood plasma Zn and Se in control group and infertility group were 1.65 +/-0.62 microgram/ml, 1.56+/-0.54 microgram/ml and 0.084+/-0.02 microgram/ml, 0.082+/-0.04 microgram/ml, respectively. In control group, the concentration of Zn in seminal plasma was significantly higher than in blood plasma (p<0.01) and Se was higher in blood plasma than in seminal plasma (p>0.05). In infertility group, the concentration of Zn in seminal plasma was significantly higher than in blood plasma (p<0.05) and Se was significantly higher in blood plasma than in seminal plasma (p>0.05). The Zn and Se in seminal and blood plasmas repealed no statistically significant differences according to sperm density and plasma FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin level (p>0.5). As a result, we suggest that the .ole of Zn and Se in male infertility may have directly effects on sperm function and spermatogenes.