Parameters of Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Protection in Men with Pathological Spermogram Variants

Abstract

Background. Today infertile marriage is not only a serious medical, but also a socio-demographic and economic problem. Male factor contributes averagely to half of the cases of the disease in couples. Such factors as high levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress have been reported to compromise the process of spermatogenesis and sperm function in men. Oxidative stress is a significant risk factor for male infertility. A pro-oxidant testicular environment may alter the expression profile of functional sperm proteins and result in poor sperm quality.Aims. To study the characteristics of the intensity of the processes of lipoperoxidation and antioxidant status in the ejaculate of men with different variants of spermograms.Materials and methods. We examined 69 men with primary infertility and 155 fertile men. The content of lipid peroxidation components and antioxidant protection was determined by spectrophotometric method.Results. The results of the study in men with infertility and asthenozoospermia showed decreased total antioxidant activity of sperm by 50 % and α-tocopherol by 52 %, and in men with infertility and oligozoospermia, decreased total antioxidant activity of sperm by 47 % and α-tocopherol by 41 %.Conclusions. The analysis indicates a change in the parameters of the system of lipid peroxidation – antioxidant defense system and confirms the development of oxidative stress in them. Depending on the pathological state of the ejaculate in men of reproductive age, lipid peroxidation processes have their own characteristics. In men with oligozoospermia, peroxidation processes occur more intensively. Activation of lipid peroxidation – antioxidant defense system processes can be both a consequence and a cause of various metabolic changes in the human body.