Abstract: Zinc is an essential micronutrient for spermatogenesis and normal sperm function. There have been conflicting reports on the relation of seminal zinc on various seminal parameters. This study aimed to evaluate zinc levels in seminal plasma of infertile men and its relation to infertility.
Objective: To find out relation of zinc concentration in seminal plasma with sperm morphology in infertile subjects having normozoospermia, oligozoospermia and azoospermia.
Design: Cross sectional study
Setting: This study is carried out in the reproductive biology unit in department of Physiology &Central Research Lab, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Sawangi Wardha (MS) from June 2009 to Dec 2011.
Subjects and method: Study involved detail history taking; clinical examination followed by detailed semen analysis as per the WHO criteria. The seminal plasma was then classified in to six groups patients having normozoospermia (40), oligozoospermia (16) ,ashanospermia withnormal count (9),oligoasthenospermia (20),teratozoospermia(10) and azoospermia (10). They were used for zinc determination by zinc kit (supplied by Coral pharmaceuticals) using colorimeter. The morphology of the sperm is also evaluated. With WHO criteria, sample is normal if 30 % or more of the observed sperm have normal morphology.Slides for morphological smear were prepared and smear were fixed and stained with papanicolau stain, the procedure was done according to WHO manual.
Results: Zinc levels were lower among azoospermic & oligospermic as compared to normozoospermic patients. Seminal plasma zinc showed a positive correlation with normal spermatozoa morphology.
Conclusion: Zinc level in seminal plasma and its relationship to seminal parameters might give useful information regarding male reproductive dysfunction. It seems that the estimation of seminal plasma zinc may help in investigation and treatment of infertile subjects.
Keywords: Normozospermia, oligospermia, oligoasthenospermia, taratozoospermia, asthenospermia, azoospermia.
Title: Relevance of zinc concentration in seminal plasma with sperm morphology in infertile males
Author: Anuradha H Pawar, Sanghya Singh Bais
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
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