[Study of zinc in protecting sperm from sodium nitroprusside damage].

OBJECTIVE

To study the function of zinc in preventing human sperm from being damaged by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an external NO donor.

METHODS

Analyses were made of the function of zinc in protecting sperm from being influenced by SNP in such aspects as sperm motility, head-tail connection and the breakage of sperm DNA chain by using phase-contrast microscope and single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).

RESULTS

Sperm motility was obviously inhibited by SNP. The percentage of comet cells increased significantly but the stability of sperm head-tail connection decreased. Zinc could promote sperm motility, protect the DNA chain and prevent the sperm head-tail connection from breaking.

CONCLUSION

Zinc can protect sperm from being damaged by NO. Its mechanism may be related to the mercaptol group of sperm chromatin.