[Experimental studies of male infertility and zinc].

The physiological role of zinc in sperm motility was studied. There was a positive correlation between the sperm motility and the low molecular weight binding zinc (ultrafiltrable zinc) concentration. The low molecular weight binding zinc was purified by gel filtration and identified as zinc citrate by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The addition of zinc citrate to the fresh semen of the patients with asthenozoospermia stimulated sperm motility. These results suggest that zinc has a significant role in human sperm motility.