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Postejaculatory zinc redistribution and sperm senescence
1Department of Physiology I, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Trace Elements and Electrolytes in Health and Disease
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Zinc distribution in semen varies by molecular weight. Higher proportions of high molecular weight (HMW) zinc are linked to infertility and lower sperm motility, suggesting a role in reproductive health.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Biochemistry
- Trace Element Analysis
Background:
- Zinc is an essential trace element with crucial roles in male reproductive function.
- Understanding zinc's binding forms in semen is vital for assessing reproductive health.
- Previous studies have indicated zinc's importance, but its specific ligand distribution requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of zinc among different molecular weight ligands in human semen.
- To compare zinc distribution in seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men.
- To explore the relationship between zinc-ligand distribution and sperm motility.
Main Methods:
- Gel chromatography was employed to separate semen components based on molecular weight.
- Zinc concentration was analyzed across different fractions: high molecular weight (HMW), intermediate molecular weight (IMW), and low molecular weight (LMW).
- Semen samples from normal, infertile, and fertile individuals were analyzed, with further subdivision based on sperm motility.
Main Results:
- In normal semen, zinc predominantly binds to low molecular weight (LMW) ligands (61.5%), followed by intermediate (IMW, 26.9%) and high molecular weight (HMW, 11.6%) ligands.
- Prostatic fluid showed predominantly LMW-bound zinc, while seminal vesicular fluid contained only HMW-bound zinc.
- Infertile men exhibited a significantly higher proportion of HMW-bound zinc compared to fertile men (16.1% vs. 11.8%).
- A higher proportion of HMW-bound zinc was observed in semen samples with lower sperm motility.
- No significant differences in total zinc, magnesium, or fructose concentrations were found between fertile and infertile groups or between low and high sperm motility groups.
Conclusions:
- Semen zinc distribution varies significantly between different seminal fractions and is altered in conditions of infertility and low sperm motility.
- The increased proportion of HMW-bound zinc in infertile men and those with low motility suggests its potential as a biomarker for impaired reproductive function.
- Further research is warranted to identify the specific HMW ligands involved and their functional implications in male fertility.