[Concentration of some trace elements in the semen of men]

By means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry, the authors determined the concentration of calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper and plumbum in the spermatic fluid of 32 men infertile at the time of the examination. Assuming the number of sperms as the main criterion, the material was divided in three groups: I--lack of sperms (5.men), II--more than 40 million sperms in 1 ml of the spermatic fluid (8 men) and group III--less than 40 million sperms in the spermatic fluid (19 men). Different degrees of asthenozoospermia were taken into consideration--in group II--4 cases, in group III--14 cases. The mean values of the levels of the elements defined in mg/dm3, the range of the levels and standard deviations have been presented in the table. Statistical calculations made according to the T-Student test on the IBM/PC computer according to the Epistat programme did not show statistical significance between the particular groups as to the elements examined. It seems that the examination of the level of trace elements in the semen based on the clinical classification, without considering environmental conditions of life and work, way of nutrition and other possible factors does not present greater value.