A study of variation in the levels of seminal plasma superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in normospermic and oligozoospermic men

Background: Infertility is one of the major concerns of humankind and the male cause of infertility contributes nearly a third for its condition. Amongst many a factor that influences sperm health, the seminal antioxidants are one among the vital determinants of male fertility.

Aimand objective:To estimate and compare the levels of seminal plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) between normospermic and oligospermic men and to correlate them with the seminal parameters of sperm count, motility and vitality of the seminal samples of the respective population.

Methodology:This pilot effort is a hospital based study with the study population comprising of 10 normospermic men for the control group and 10 oligospermic volunteers for the case group. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were estimated in the seminal plasma to reflect the antioxidant status in the seminal sample.

Results:SOD levels in normospermic was 11.19 1.22 (U/ml of seminal fluid) while in oligospermic was 9.17 1.94 (U/ml of seminal fluid) and GPx level in normospermic was 24.46 7.39 (g of GSH consumed /min/ml of seminal fluid)while in oligospermic was 17.23 8.27(g of GSH consumed/min/ml of seminal fluid). SOD is significantly reduced (P value 0.012 (<0.05)) and GPx reduced with P value 0.054 in oligospermic men, which correlates inversely with the seminal parameters of sperm count, motility and vitality in the oligospermic samples .

Conclusion:The decreased levels of SOD and GPx in the seminal plasma of oligospermic men when compared to normospermic population signifies a reduced scavenging machinery in their seminal plasma which would have lead to the decrease in the sperm count due to oxidative stress thus leading to infertility.

Glutathione peroxidase, Male infertility, Sperm count, Superoxide dismutase