Efficient Concentration of Zinc In Vitro Improves Human Sperm Motility

Background: Zinc ion in human body is known as a micronutrientand also cofactor for more than ۳۰۰ enzymes so it isessential for large number of cell functions. High concentrationof zinc could be found in prostate and parts of the eye. Zincconcentration is about ۳۰ times higher in seminal plasma thanin blood of men. In some studies, sperm motility improvementin asthenozoospermia and even oligozoospermia, has been reported۳ months after oral zinc supplements. In vitro studieson animal and human semen samples showed that adding concentrationslower than ۱۰۰ μM of zinc, depends on added concentrationsand animal species, caused sperm motility improvement.A Recent study showed that seminal zinc concentrationwas higher in asthenozoospermia than in normozospermia cases,they demonstrated that high zinc levels could corrupt spermmotility. The aim of this study was to investigate the changesof sperm motility after zinc treatment of semen in asthenozoospermiamen referred to Royan institute.Materials and Methods: Semen samples were collected from۲۰ normozoospermic and ۳۹ asthenozoospermic men. Aftersimple wash, sperm was exposed to different concentrationsof zinc sulfate (۰.۱, ۱, ۱۰, ۱۰۰ μM) for three hours and alsothere was a zinc free group (۰ μM). Before that seminal plasmaZinc level was determined by spectrophotometry. Sperm motilitywas evaluated before and after zinc treatment by CASAsystem. A Randomized Block Design was performed for Dataanalyzing.Results: The significant increase was seen in total and progressivesperm motility of normozoospermic group after ۱۰μM zinc treatment. However, in asthenozoospermic samplesonly with semen zinc concentrations less than ۱۴۰ μg/ml, animprovement in sperm motility was seen in this concentration.Conclusion: Zinc in appropriate concentration could have abeneficial effect on sperm motility in normozoospermic men.Zinc treatment in semen of asthenozoospermic men with highseminal plasma zinc concentration results no improvement onsperm motility.

کلیدواژه ها:

Seminal Zinc ، Sperm Motility ، Asthenozoospermic Men