Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical and Biochemical Biology, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, M. Skłodowska-Curie St. 9, PL, 85-094, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chair and Department of Biopharmacy, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, dr. A. Jurasz St. 2, PL, 85-089, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2019 Apr;188(2):251-260. doi: 10.1007/s12011-018-1416-9. Epub 2018 Jun 29.
We analyzed cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) concentrations in human semen and catalase CAT activity in seminal plasma and the effects of their relations on the sperm quality. We obtained semen samples from men (n = 168) undergoing routine infertility evaluation. Studies included two groups based on the ejaculate parameters: I (n = 39; normal ejaculate; normozoospermia); II (n = 129; pathological spermiogram). We examined relationships and differences between Co, Cr, and Pb concentrations in seminal plasma, CAT activity, and semen parameters. We did not establish differences in Co, Cr, and Pb concentrations and CAT activity from men between normozoospermic and those with pathological spermiogram. We found a significantly lower Co concentration and CAT activity in males with normal sperm motility than in asthenozoospermic males. We found significantly lower Co and a higher Pb concentration in males with normal morphology of spermatozoa than in teratozoospermic males. We found a significantly higher Pb concentration in the individuals with consumption of alcohol than in those without consumption. There were significant correlations between Co and Pb concentrations, sperm progressive motility (A + B, i.e., fast and slow progressive motility; Co-negatively; Pb-positively), and normal morphology of spermatozoa (Co-negatively; Pb-positively). We found a significant negative correlation between Cr concentration and slow progressive motility, and between CAT activity and volume of ejaculate. Co, Cr, and Pb levels and CAT activity were related to sperm characteristics and male fertility. The impact of alcohol may be manifested by a disturbance in Pb equilibrium in the body. Co and Pb influence progressive motility and normal morphology of human spermatozoa. Thus, Co and Pb levels in semen may be a useful diagnostic in male infertility. Most of the results of this study are in contrast to expectations. Namely, Pb is a toxic element and its harmful effects (poor semen quality) may be expected already at relatively low level of Pb exposure and are particularly visible with increasing of Pb. Co and Cr(III) are essential elements and harmful effects may be expected at their deficiency and/or overexposure.
我们分析了人类精液中的钴（Co）、铬（Cr）和铅（Pb）浓度以及精浆中的过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性，以及它们之间的关系对精子质量的影响。我们从接受常规不育评估的男性（n=168）中获得了精液样本。研究根据精液参数分为两组：I 组（n=39；正常精液；正常精子症）；II 组（n=129；病理性精子图）。我们检查了 Co、Cr 和 Pb 在精浆中的浓度、CAT 活性以及精液参数之间的关系和差异。我们没有发现 Co、Cr 和 Pb 浓度以及 CAT 活性在正常精子和病理性精子图男性之间存在差异。我们发现正常精子运动的男性的 Co 浓度和 CAT 活性显著低于弱精子症男性。我们发现 Co 浓度较低且精子形态正常的男性的 Pb 浓度较高，而畸形精子症男性的 Co 浓度较低且 Pb 浓度较高。我们发现饮酒者的 Pb 浓度显著高于不饮酒者。Co 和 Pb 浓度与精子前向运动（A+B，即快速和慢速前向运动；Co 呈负相关；Pb 呈正相关）和精子形态正常（Co 呈负相关；Pb 呈正相关）呈显著正相关。我们发现 Cr 浓度与慢速前向运动之间存在显著负相关，以及 CAT 活性与精液量之间存在显著负相关。Co、Cr 和 Pb 水平以及 CAT 活性与精子特征和男性生育力有关。酒精的影响可能表现为体内 Pb 平衡失调。Co 和 Pb 影响人类精子的前向运动和形态正常。因此，精液中的 Co 和 Pb 水平可能是男性不育的有用诊断指标。本研究的大多数结果与预期相反。即，Pb 是一种有毒元素，其有害影响（精液质量差）可能在相对较低的 Pb 暴露水平下已经显现，并且随着 Pb 的增加而更加明显。Co 和 Cr（III）是必需元素，在其缺乏和/或过量暴露时可能会产生有害影响。
