The Relationship between BMI, Metal Elements, Antioxidant Capacity of Semen on the Human Sperm Chromatin

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Anatomy Dep, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

3 Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

10.22074/ijfs.2023.563577.1379

Abstract

Background: Sperm chromatin abnormalities are defects in nuclear maturation and DNA integrity. These defects originated from defective spermatogenesis due to a lack of DNA repair during chromatin remodeling. Changes in semen elements can cause damage to chromatin. There is little information about the relation of changes in trace metal elements and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) with sperm chromatin damage. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between Selenium (Se), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), and Copper (Cu) and the TAC of semen with the status of human sperm chromatin.

Materials and methods: In this experimental study, semen samples (n=30) were collected from healthy men referred to Kermanshah Motazadi Hospital and stored in liquid nitrogen; after thawing and centrifugation, sperm were separated. The atomic absorption method was used to measure the concentration of metal elements. The TAC was evaluated using the ferric-reducing antioxidant capacity of plasma method. Furthermore, the integrity of sperm chromatin was measured using the sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) method.

Results: The status of sperm chromatin had a non-significant correlation with BMI (p= 0.25, r=0.21) and a non-significant negative correlation with sperm count (p=0.71, r=-0.71) and motility (p= 0.75, r-0.61). In addition, there was no significant relationship between sperm chromatin and the TAC of semen (p=0.92, r=0.01). Additionally, there was no significant correlation between Se, Zn, or Cu concentration (p>0.05) and Fe concentration, which had a partially positive relationship with the chromatin state of sperm (p=0.24, r=0.20).

Conclusion: The trace metal elements in the seminal fluid did not play a significant role in the status of sperm chromatin.

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International Journal of Fertility and Sterility

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 February 2023

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