The impact of seminal zinc and fructose concentration on human sperm characteristic

Nội dung text: The impact of seminal zinc and fructose concentration on human sperm characteristic

1. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH THE IMPACT OF SEMINAL ZINC AND FRUCTOSE CONCENTRATION ON HUMAN SPERM CHARACTERISTIC Vu Thi Huyen, Nguyen Thi Trang, Luong Thi Lan Anh, Vu To Giang, Bui Bich Mai, Nguyen Xuan Tung Department of Biomedical and Genetics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam This study assessed the association between fructose and zinc concentration and various seminal characteristics. Fructose and zinc in semen reflect the secretory function of seminal vesicles. These tests may help in assessing the diagnosis and the management of male infertility. Seminal plasma was gathered from 180 males who averaged 31.1 ± 3,6 in age. A specific complexant was used to form a stable coloured complex with fructose or zinc. The colour intensity of the complex in a determining wavelength is proportional to the amount of fructose or zinc present in the sample. The study found that seminal fructose concentration was significantly lower in the oligozoospermic group and the azoospermic group in comparison to the with normozoospermic group. There were also many significant differences in zinc’s concentration in semen when two of three groups were compared with one another. In conclusion, the role of seminal fructose concentration lie not only in the assessing seminal vesicle dysfunction, but also, in conjunction with other seminal properties could give a useful indication of male reproductive function, whilst seminal zinc concentration might not be most appropriate for the assessment of male reproductive dysfunction. Keywords: infertility, seminal fructose, seminal zinc, azoospermia. I. INTRODUCTION As many reasons cause male infertility, it diagnosing the cause of male infertility. is essential to identify appropriate methods Fructose is essential for spermatozoa to diagnose the underlying cause many metabolism and motility. Fructose is tests have been applied previously, such an energy source of spermatozoa. It is as semen analysis, genetic tests and produced by the seminal vesicles with hormone methods. Recently, some of these some contribution from the ampulla of the biochemical markers zinc and fructose, are ductus deferens [1; 2]. Absence of fructose like increasingly recognized as important for in semen is indicative of ejaculatory duct obstruction or seminal vesicle dysfunction [3; 4]. Corresponding author: Nguyen Thi Trang, Department Apart from fructose, zinc is another factor of Biomedical and Genetics,Hanoi Medical University. that is essential for the male reproductive Email: trangnguyen@hmu.edu.vn system. Deficiency of zinc in the reproductive Received: 03 June 2017 system causes hypogonadism and gonadal Accepted: 16 November 2017 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018 17
2. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH hypofunction [5; 6]. Many studies have method) – direct colorimetric test without shown that zinc plays an important role in deproteinization of the sample. At pH sperm mobility an the normal development 8.6, in a buffered media, zinc react with of the testicles and prostate [2; 7; 8]. specific complexant 5-Br-PAPS form a However, in Vietnam, knowledge about stable color compound Fructose content the relationship between seminal zinc and in seminal plasma was determined by the fructose concentration in human sperm is resorcinol method where fructose reacts scare. Therefore, the purpose of this study with resorcinol in concentrated hydrochloric was to determine the association between acid (HCl) solution to form a red compound. fructose and zinc concentration and various Measure the coloric complex of Zinc and seminal characteristics in men. Fructose at a wavelength of 560 nm against blanks (ROE, 1976). II. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Statistical analysis 1. Subjects Statistical analysis was performed The study design was descriptive. using SPSS version 16.0. The means were Fructose and zinc concentration was compared using student t test. The statistical measured in the seminal plasma of 180 tests were considered to be significant at patients, who visited the Fertility Department the p ≤ 0.05 level. of Hanoi Medical University Hospital from 3. Ethics March, 2016 to March, 2017 after semen Ethical approval to conduct the study analysis tests showing abnormal seminal was sought from the Hanoi Medical characteristics (sperm concentration, total University. Permission to use data from count, motility, progressive motility). All the the Hanoi Medical University Hospital was samples were analyzed according to the sought from the hospital authority. All the World Health Organization criteria (1992). information from the database was kept On the basis of the assessed parameters, under strict confidentiality. No names were sperm concentration and sperm motility recorded. were considered as the most important parameters. III. RESULTS 2. Method Fructose concentration and seminal Measuring the concentration of parameters fructose and zinc Table 1 shows that seminal fructose in After semen analysis, samples were oligozoospermia was significantly higher centrifuged at 1500 x g for 10 min and than normozoospermia (p < 0.05). Besides, zinc and fructose concentrations assayed the mean sperm concentration (133.808 from the supernatant (i.e. seminal ± 48.215 billion/ mL), and the mean plasma). Zinc concentration was assessed vitality (86.483 ± 3.218 %) and the mean using spectrophotometry (5- Br- PAPS progressive motility (11.250 ± 10.157 %) in 18 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018
3. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH males with normozoospermia were significantly higher than that in males with oligozoospermia (5.633 ± 4.992 billion/ mL and 58.183 ± 18.14 % and 11.250 ± 10.157 % respectively) (p < 0.01). Table 1. Seminal fructose and some characteristics of the semen (Independent sample T – test) Normozoospermia Oligozoospermia p-value of Mean± SD Mean± SD fructose test Fructose 1.601 ± 0.604 1.881 ± 0.640 < 0.05 Sperm concentration 133.808 ± 48.215 5.633 ± 4.992 < 0.01 (billion/ml) Vitality (%) 86.483 ± 3.218 58.183 ± 18.114 < 0.01 Progressive motility 54.667 ± 9.278 11.250 ± 10.157 < 0.01 (%) Some sperm characteristics and seminal fructose concentration are shown in the graph below. The results suggest is a significant correlation at the 0.05 level (2-tailed) between seminal fructose concentration and sperm progressive motility (z = -0.183; p < 0.05) (Spearman test) (Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3). Figure 1. Correlation between seminal fructose concentration (g/l) and sperm concentration (billion/ml) JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018 19
4. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH Figure 2. Correlation between seminal fructose concentration (g/l) and sperm vitality (%) Figure 3. Correlation between seminal fructose concentration (g/l) and sperm progressive motility (%) Zinc concentration and seminal parameters Table 2 shows the following: • The progressive mobility of the low zinc concentration group was 16.87 ± 10.67%, lower than that of the normal zinc concentration group (49.93 ± 15.35%). This difference is statistically significant (z= -11.481, p < 0.01) 20 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018
5. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH • There was no statistically significant difference in mean non- progressive motility of males with low zinc concentration compared to males with normal zinc concentration (p= 0.19) Table 2. Seminal zinc concentration and motility of the sperm (Mann – Whitney test) Low zinc concentration Normal zinc z p-value (n = 84) concentration (n = 96) Progressive 16.87 ± 10.67 49.93 ± 15.35 - 11.481 < 0.01 motility (%) Non- progressive 3.64 ± 2.07 4.07 ± 4.63 - 1.301 > 0.05 motility (%) Immotile (%) 73.00 ± 21.42 44.07 ± 15.43 10.433 < 0.01 The low zinc concentration group had an immotile percentage of 73.00 ± 21.42% was higher than the normal zinc concentration group (44.07 ± 15.43%) (z = 10.433). This difference was statistically significant with p < 0.001. Seminal zinc concentration showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.596) with sperm progressive motility (p < 0.01) Negative correlations with sperm immotile (r = - 0.527) which were observed reached statistical significance (p < 0.01). Figure 4. Correlation between seminal zinc concentration (g/l) and sperm progressive motility (%) (r = 0.596; p < 0.01) ( Spearman test) JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018 21
6. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH Figure 5. Correlation between seminal zinc concentration (g/l) and sperm immotile (%) (r = - 0.527; p < 0.01) ( Spearman test) IV. DISCUSSION (2007) reported that when sperm motility Fructose is a main carbohydrate source increased, fructose decreased, and in vitro, in seminal plasma and necessary for sperm continued using fructose [4]. Normal sperm motility [9; 10]. The measurement seminal fructose concentration confirms of seminal fructose has been used in normal levels of testosterone and function many laboratories. Therefore, the World of vesicles and vas deferens [12]. Biswas et Health Organization manual recommends al. (1978) also reported that when seminal measurement of seminal fructose as a fructose concentration decreased, sperm marker of seminal vesicular function [11]. concentration and mobility increased [13]. Methods for determination of seminal Furthermore, Lewis Jones et al.,1996 found fructose include gas chromatography, that fructose concentrations were inversely indole coloration, and resorcinol coloration. ratio to sperm motility with R = - 0,062 (p In particular, the resorcinol method has < 0.05) [7]. However, Andrade Rocha been used widely in clinical andrology (2001) found contrary evidence that that laboratories for its simplicity operational, seminal fructose concentration was related and high specificity. to sperm concentration, survival, motility Fructose is the primary source of and morphology, but the association was energy for all sperm activities. The higher not statistically significant [14]. In Amidu the sperm concentration, vitality, and, (2012), seminal fructose concentration motility the lower fructose will be [2; 4]. Lu negatively correlated with sperm motility 22 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018
7. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH (R = - 0.04) but was also not statistically however, a partial redistribution of the ion significant [15]. Fructose concentration was from citrate to very high affinity vesicular inversely celated to sperm concentration (R ligands reduces the unbound zinc fraction = - 0.21) anh this correlation was significant [18 - 20]. at 0.05 [16]. Determination of seminal The measurement of zinc in human fructose concentration has been used in seminal plasma is important in the the examination of obstructive azoospermia evaluation of male infertility. In the present and inflammation of male accessory glands study, the level of zinc in seminal plasma [11; 12; 15]. Inflammation may lead to was found to be mor frequently immotile atrophy of the seminal vesicles and low in the zinc concentration group was higher seminal fructose concentration. When (73.00 ± 21.42%) than in the group with ejaculatory ducts are blocked, fructose normal zinc concentration (44.07 ± 15.43%) concentration in seminal plasma usually (z = 10.433). A positive correlation between decreases and may become undetectable zinc levels and sperm concentration and [12; 17]. Additionally, determination of motility was also observed in our study. This seminal plasma fructose concentration is isin accordance with previous studies of useful for auxiliary diagnosis of obstructive Doshi et al., Hussain et al., Badade et al., and nonobstructive azoospermia. Seminal Atig et al., and Abed [21 - 25]. Eliasson and fructose concentration in non-obstructive Lindholme et al., in contrast could not find azoospermia is usually higher than or any correlation between zinc concentration equal to that in males of normal fertility and sperm density, motility, or morphology [9]. However, the fructose concentration [26]. in seminal plasma of patients with Fuse et al., found a positive correlation obstructive azoospermia is usually absent between zinc and sperm concentration or significantly lower than that in men of and motility, but no correlation with sperm normal fertility [12; 15]. Absence of seminal morphology was observed [27]. Mankad fructose has also been found in patients with et al., found a positive correlation between congenital vas deferens-seminal vesicle zinc and sperm count, but no significant developmental defect (Kise et al., 2000; correlation between zinc and sperm motility Kumar et al., 2005). Therefore, our results [28]. are consistent with those reported studies Thus, it seems that zinc is important for in other international. semen quality. The low zinc levels in infertile One of the biochemical processes men in our study might be attributed to related to genital fluid mixing is the disorders in the prostate excretory function regulation of the fraction of free seminal or possibly to asymptomatic prostate zinc, which can interact with spermatozoa. infection. Zinc is first secreted in prostatic fluid in2 Omu (1998), Hadwan (2013), and others forms available for sperm cells (free zinc and found that sperm motility increased after zinc-citrate complex). During ejaculation, treatment with zinc supplementation [29 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018 23
8. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH - 33]. However, Omar F. Abdul-Rasheed with sperm counts and motility. Fertility and (2009) found no correlation between zinc Sterility, 2, 200 - 204. concentrations in semen and sperm motility 3. Aumuller G, Riva A (1992). [34]. Morphology and functions of the human seminal vesicle. Andrologia 24(4): 183 - V. CONCLUSION 196. The seminal fructose concentration of 4. Lu C.J (2007). Standardization and the normozopermia group is significantly quality control for determination of fructose lower than oligozoospermia group. Fructose in seminal plasma. Journal of Andrology, 28 seminal concentration correclated with (2), 207 - 213. sperm motility. 5. Sandstead HH, Prasad AS, The progressive motility in the low zinc Schulert AR, Farid Z, Miale A, Jr., Bassilly concentration group is significantly lower S, et al. (1967). Human zinc deficiency, than that of the normal zinc concentration endocrine manifestations and response to group. The number of immotile sperm in the treatment. Am J Clin Nutr 20(5):422 - 442. low zinc concentration group is significantly 6. Omu A.E, Dashti H, Al Othman S higher than that of the normal zinc (1998). Treatment of asthenozoospermic concentration group. Zinc concentration has with zinc sulphate: andrological , a positive correlation with sperm progressive immunological and obstetric outcome. Eur J motility and a negative correlation with Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 79, 179 - 184. immotile both are statistically significant. 7. Lewis Jones D.I., Aird I.A., Biljan Acknowledgements M.M. (1996). Effects of sperm activity on zinc and fructose concentrations in The authors would like to take this seminal plasma. Oxford Journals, Human opportunity to extend their sincere thanks to Reproduction, 11 (11), 2465 – 2467. the Ministry of Health for providing financial 8. Basil Oied Mohammed Saleh, support for the study. They also are grateful Nawal Khiry Hussain, Ali Yakub Majid for the technical support form the Hanoi et al (2008). Status of Zinc and Copper Medical University Hospital for assaying of Concentrations in Seminal Plasma of Male seminal fructose and zinc. Infertility and Their Correlation with Various REFERENCES Sperm Parameters. The Iraqi postgraduate 1. Schoenfeld C, Amelar RD, Dubin medical journal, 7, 76 - 80. L, Numeroff M (1979). Prolactin,fructose, 9. Buckett WM, Lewis-Jones DI and zinc levels found in human seminal (2002). Fructose concentrations in seminal plasma. Fertil Steril 32(2) , 206 - 208. plasma from men with nonobstructive 2. Biswas S., Ferguson K.M., azoospermia. Arch Androl; 48 , 23 – 27. Stedronska J. et al (1978). Fructose and 10. Santiani A., Huanca W., Sapana hormone levels in semen: their correlations R., Huanca T., Sepulveda N., Sanchez 24 JMR 111 E2 (2) - 2018
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