Serum Zinc and Copper Changes in Male Infertility

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study to detect the correlation between trace elements such as zinc, copper and spermatogenesis, sperm viability and motility. Methodology: Serum and semen samples were collected from one hundred twenty patients with age ranged (20-50 years) attending the high institute for Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment/ Baghdad University, in addition to thirty fertile males their age comparable to that of patients. The period of this study was from June 2004 until the end of October 2004.Results: The result of routine seminal fluid analysis of all infertile males was divided according to WHO, (1999) limit into four groups: Asthenospermia(A), Asthenoteratospermia(AT), Oligoasthenoteratospermia OAT and Azoospermia(Azoo), each group includes thirty patient. Results showed highly significant decrease in serum zinc concentration in different infertile groups compared to control group, and a slight increase in serum copper concentration in different infertile group. With advancing age, all the infertile groups, as well as the control group, had a slight decrease in serum concentration of zinc, and a slight increase in serum copper concentration.Recommendations: Further studies are needed to evaluate the levels of different biochemical parameters in seminal plasma of different infertile groups.