Volume 2, Issue 1 (2017)                   SJMR 2017, 2(1): 59-62 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.29252/sjrm.1.2.59

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Carnitine, Fructose and Zinc Levels in Seminal Plasma of Unexplained Asthenospermic Patients Compared with Normal Individualsal individuals
A.T. Saremi * 1, M. Khamesian2 , F. Marmazi2
1- “Sarem Fertility & Infertility Research Center (SAFIR)” and “Sarem Cell Research Center (SCRC)”, Sarem Women’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran , saremiat@yahoo.com
2- Sarem Women’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (6168 Views)

Aims: Unexplained asthenospermia is one of the most important causes of male infertility. Biochemical parameters of seminal plasma are useful in diagnosis of this cause of infertility. Three parameters including carnitine, fructose and zinc can indicate the function of epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate, respectively. The objective of this study was to evaluate the carnitine, fructose and zinc levels in seminal plasma of unexplained asthenospermic patients compared with normal individuals.
Materials & Methods: In this case-control study, we measured the level of carnitine, fructose and zinc in seminal plasma of 43 unexplained asthenospermic patients (case group) and 37 normal men (control group). Data and demographic characteristics of the patients were collected through a questionnaire. In addition to sperm counts, sperm motility was also evaluated in semen samples. The levels of Zinc, fructose and carnitine were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Findings: There were no significant differences in mean fructose and zinc concentrations in seminal plasma between patient and control groups (p>0.05). Mean concentration of carnitine in the patient and control groups were 181.78±70.14 nmol/ml and 218.22±58.51 nmol/ml, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.015). Carnitine concentration was positively related to total motility (p=0.001) and progressive sperm motility (p=0.001), while there were no significant relationships between zinc and fructose concentrations and sperm motility (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Reduction of carnitine in unexplained asthenospermic patients due to epididymal disfunction may be the cause of poor sperm motility.

Keywords: Asthenospermia, Carnitine, Fructose, Zinc, Seminal Plasma
Full-Text [PDF 456 kb]   (1492 Downloads)    
Article Type: Original Research | Subject: Sterility
Received: 2016/01/15 | Accepted: 2016/05/14 | Published: 2017/06/16
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