Study The Balance between Reduced – Oxidized Glutathione in Seminal Plasma of Iraqi Subfertile Men

Abstract

Defective sperm function is the most common cause of infertility , and until recently, was difficult to evaluate and treat .Human seminal plasma a natural  reservoir of antioxidants that protect spermatozoa from oxidative damages.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to assess the antioxidant status of seminal plasma by contents of reduced  glutathione  and oxidized glutathione in men with asthenozoospermia compared to normozoospermic males ,  and their correlations with Seminal parameters.

Semen samples 25 normozoospermic controls and 25 asthenozoospermics were analyzed for physical( sperm concentration ,motility ,morphology ) and chemical ( reduced glutathione (GSHr), oxidized glutathione ( GSSG) )  parameters .

Significance of difference among the groups and coefficient of correlation between the parameters was tested statistically. GSHr level was found to be significantly higher in the normospermic men than the asthenospermic ( p<0.001).Levels of GSSG were found to be significantly higher in asthenozoospermic than the normal group ( p<0.001).Positive correlation was found between GSHr ,GSSG levels and sperm motility ( p< 0.001 , r=  0.42 ; p< 0.001, r=0.35 ). Moreover ,it was found to be correlated positively but not significant between GSHr with sperm abnormal morphology ( p=0.30, r= 0.21).Both GSHr and GSSG showed a negatively but not significant correlation with sperm count ( p=0.20, r= - 0.26; p= 0.8, r= -0.35)  .However, the sperm abnormal morphology showed a negative but not significant relationship to seminal GSSG(  P=0.27,r=- 0.22).In the present study  seminal plasma GSHr and GSSG levels were found a positive  highly significant correlation with sperm motility .This finding indicates that low level of seminal plasma GSHr and high GSSG level in infertile subject ,may be associated with male infertility.

Keywords:- Asthenozoospermics men, seminal antioxidants, reduced glutathione level, oxidized glutathione level, sperm parameters.