[Effects of L-carnitine on ejaculate parameters in males from infertile couples]

The aim of our investigation was detection of molecular mechanisms of an antioxidant action of L-carnitine (a transmembrane carrier of long-chain fatty acids) in idiopathic pathospermia. We treated 60 males from infertile couples with karniton (1 g/day). L-carnitine impact on ejaculate antioxidant status was assessed by registration of chemiluminescence and total antioxidant activity by colorimetric method according to changes in the color of ABTS chromogen. High dose-dependent antioxidant activity of the drug was found in testing on model systems in vitro. In vivo trials showed that patients given L-carnitine demonstrated a significant increase of the number of mobile spermatozoa of A category, positive changes in parameters of luminal-dependent and Fe2+ induced chemiluminescence of ejaculate in elevated antioxidant capacity of spermoplasma. After karniton treatment of the husbands 23% of their wives got pregnant. The treatment efficacy may be due to normalization of antioxidant status of ejaculate.