Association between seminal plasma carnitine and sperm mitochondrial enzymatic activities

Cellular parameters of the seminogram have been previously shown to correlate with L-carnitine concentration in the seminal fluid. Carnitine is involved in a variety of metabolic processes playing an important role in maintaining an active oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Recently, we have found a significant association between the specific activities of the respiratory chain complexes and the seminogram parameters and here we have studied the relationship between the spermatozoa OXPHOS activities and L-carnitine concentration in the seminal plasma. Carnitine, but not prostatic secretions, positive and significantly correlate with mitochondrial respiratory complex activities and the citric acid cycle enzymes citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase. It is remarkable that the ratios of the respiratory chain complexes to citrate synthase or succinate dehydrogenase, significant but negatively correlated with L-carnitine concentration. As carnitine in seminal plasma is secreted from the epididymis our results strongly suggest that relationships between carnitine secretion, seminal quality and OXPHOS activities could be because of a parallel response to the same regulatory event.