Levels of Zinc and Copper in Seminal Plasma of Sudanese Infertile Males

Abstract

Background: Human semen contains high concentrations of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). The presence of abnormal levels of these trace elements may affect sperm production, maturation, motility and fertilizing ability. Objective: To evaluate the levels of Zn and Cu in seminal plasma of Sudanese infertile male and their effect on reproductive capacity. Methods: The concentrations of Zn and Cu were measured in 150 semen samples from normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, and azoospermic men using the atomic absorption spectrometry and data was analyzed using the statistical software package SPSS version 17. Results: Results showed that the mean values of seminal plasma Zn concentrations were significantly decreased in the two groups of infertile male subjects, azoospermic (p=0.02), and oligozoospermic (p=0.03) compared with fertile males, while there was insignificant decrease in seminal plasma Cu concentration of azoospermic patients compared to control (p=0.21), and insignificant increase in oligozoospermic patients compared to control (p=0.06). Conclusion: On the basis of the observations of the present study, seminal zinc may contribute to fertility through its effects on semen parameters.