Endocrine Abstracts

To evaluate the seminal plasma anti-oxidant activity in normal and infertile men and its relation to semen quality. 58 men with idiopathic infertility problems were selected, were divided according to their sperm count into two subgroups, infertile asthenospermic group (n=31) and infertile oligo-asthenospermic group (n=27). 14 proved fertile men were selected as a control group. Semen samples were collected by masturbation, examined by conventional method. Then free seminal plasma samples were separated by centrifugation and stored at −20 C till analyzed for total anti-oxidant activity (Rice-Evans & Miller1994), total thiol concentration (Hu 1994) and the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBRs) by the metod of Walker & Shah (1988).

In the present study, the seminal plasma anti-oxidant activity in infertile groups was significantly higher than in control group (P 0.014), asthenospermic versus controls (P 0.016), oligoasthenospermic versus controls (P 0.036). No significant changes were observed in total thiol concentration and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the seminal plasma among the different groups. TBRs showed a positive significant correlation with semen volume and a negative significant correlation with percentage of abnormal forms. It could be concluded from the present study that there is a well developed system of anti-oxidants in the seminal plasma which is activated by increased levels of reactive oxygen species and products of semen lipid peroxidation. So the high levels of seminal plasma anti-oxidant activity observed in infertile groups of our study has been considered as a compensatory protective mechanism to minimize the spermatozoa membrane damage caused by the hazardus effects of free radicals on the membrane high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.