The relationship between seminal plasma zinc levels and high molecular weight zinc binding protein and sperm motility in Iraqi infertile men

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between sperm motility and total seminal plasma zinc concentration and high molecular weight zinc bound protein values in infertile Iraqi men.

METHODS: A case-control study was conducted at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq between March 2005 to February 2006. The subjects for the study included 60 infertile male patients who were recruited Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital, and Institute of Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment, Baghdad, Iraq. They were categorized according to their seminal parameters to oligozoospermia (n=32), azoospermia (n=22), and asthenozoospermia (n=6). Thirty nine fertile men (age range 31.87 ± 3.76 years) were selected as controls, whose partners had conceived within the last year before participation with this study, and having normal spermiogram parameters. Seminal plasma zinc concentration and high molecular weight zinc binding proteins (HMW-Zn) were assayed in the ejaculates of fertile and infertile men.

RESULTS: The seminal plasma zinc levels were 181.92 ± 23.40 ug/mL in the oligozoospermia group, 178.50 ± 18.61 ug/mL in the azoospermia group, 195.33 ± 13.00 ug/mL in the asthenozoospermia group, and 184.66 ± 21.31 ug/mL in the control group.

CONCLUSION: The HMW-Zn% is a good index of sperm function rather than the total seminal plasma zinc levels.