Bedwal R S, Bahuguna A
Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
Experientia. 1994 Jul 15;50(7):626-40. doi: 10.1007/BF01952862.
Of the nine biological trace elements, zinc, copper and selenium are important in reproduction in males and females. Zinc content is high in the adult testis, and the prostate has a higher concentration of zinc than any other organ of the body. Zinc deficiency first impairs angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, and this in turn leads to depletion of testosterone and inhibition of spermatogenesis. Defects in spermatozoa are frequently observed in the zinc-deficient rat. Zinc is thought to help to extend the functional life span of the ejaculated spermatozoa. Zinc deficiency in the female can lead to such problems as impaired synthesis/secretion of (FSH) and (LH), abnormal ovarian development, disruption of the estrous cycle, frequent abortion, a prolonged gestation period, teratogenicity, stillbirths, difficulty in parturition, pre-eclampsia, toxemia and low birth weights of infants. The level of testosterone in the male has been suggested to play a role in the severity of copper deficiency. Copper-deficient female rats are protected against mortality due to copper deficiency, and the protection has been suggested to be provided by estrogens, since estrogens alter the subcellular distribution of copper in the liver and increase plasma copper levels by inducing ceruloplasmin synthesis. The selenium content of male gonads increases during pubertal maturation. Selenium is localized in the mitochondrial capsule protein (MCP) of the midpiece. Maximal incorporation in MCP occurs at steps 7 and 12 of spermatogenesis and uptake decreases by step 15. Selenium deficiency in females results in infertility, abortions and retention of the placenta. The newborns from a selenium-deficient mother suffer from muscular weakness, but the concentration of selenium during pregnancy does not have any effect on the weight of the baby or length of pregnancy. The selenium requirements of a pregnant and lactating mother are increased as a result of selenium transport to the fetus via the placenta and to the infant via breast milk.
在九种生物微量元素中，锌、铜和硒对雄性和雌性生殖都很重要。成年睾丸中的锌含量很高，前列腺中的锌浓度高于身体的任何其他器官。锌缺乏首先会损害血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）的活性，进而导致睾酮耗竭和精子发生抑制。在缺锌大鼠中经常观察到精子缺陷。锌被认为有助于延长射出精子的功能寿命。女性缺锌会导致诸如促卵泡激素（FSH）和促黄体生成素（LH）合成/分泌受损、卵巢发育异常、发情周期紊乱、频繁流产、妊娠期延长、致畸性、死产、分娩困难、先兆子痫、毒血症以及婴儿低出生体重等问题。有人提出男性体内的睾酮水平在铜缺乏的严重程度中起作用。缺铜的雌性大鼠可免受铜缺乏导致的死亡，有人认为这种保护是由雌激素提供的，因为雌激素会改变肝脏中铜的亚细胞分布，并通过诱导铜蓝蛋白合成来提高血浆铜水平。雄性性腺中的硒含量在青春期成熟期间会增加。硒定位于中段的线粒体包膜蛋白（MCP）中。MCP中的最大掺入发生在精子发生的第7步和第12步，到第15步时摄取量下降。雌性缺硒会导致不孕、流产和胎盘滞留。缺硒母亲所生的新生儿会出现肌肉无力，但孕期的硒浓度对婴儿体重或妊娠期长度没有任何影响。由于硒通过胎盘转运到胎儿并通过母乳转运到婴儿，怀孕和哺乳期母亲对硒的需求量会增加。
