Correlation between Sperm Quality Parameters and Seminal Plasma Antioxidants Status

There is growing evidence that damage to spermatozoa by reactive oxygen species(ROS) play a key role in male infertility.

The aim of the present study was to assess the antioxidant status of seminal plasma bymeasuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in men with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermiacompared to normozoospermic males, and their correlations with seminal parameters.

46 men with seminal parameters abnormalities divided in threecategories: asthenozoospermic (n=15), asthenoteratozoospermic (n=16) andoligoasthenoteratozoospermic (n=15), according WHO criteria, participated in the study. Thecontrol group consisted of 25 males with normozoospermia. Catalase activity was measured byAebi spectrophotometeric method. Commercially available colorimetric assays were used formeasuring SOD activity and TAC.

TAC evaluation showed significantly lower values in the total case group (n=46) versuscontrol group (1.05±0.04 mmmol/ml vs. 1.51±0.07 mmol/ml, p<0.05). Catalase activity alsoshowed significantly lower values in the total case group (n=46) versus control group (14.40± 0.93U/ml vs. 21.33±1.50 U/ml). But this difference was not significant for SOD activity (5.31±0.56U/ml vs. 6.19±0.83 U/ml). Both catalase activity and TAC in asthenozoospermic,asthenoteratozoospermic, oligoasthenoteratozoospermic subjects were significantly lower thannormozoospermic males, but SOD activity did not show a significant difference between thesegroups. Both catalase activity and TAC showed a positively significant correlation withprogressively motile sperms and normal sperm morphology, but these correlations with SODactivity were not significant.

Decreasing seminal plasma antioxidant status especially catalase activity and TACmay have significant role in etiology of sperm abnormality.