Some Heavy Metals Correlated Negatively with Total Antioxidant Capacity, Glutathione Peroxidase, Fructose, and Testosterone in Seminal Plasma of Oligospermic and Azoospermic Males

Aim: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between some heavy metals and total antioxidant capacities, glutathione levels, fructose, and testosterone in seminal plasma of infertile azoospermic and oligospermic males in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.

Study Design: A cross-sectional design with a total of 124 males included in the study of which 32 were azoospermic, 38, oligospermic, and 54, normospermic.

Place and Duration of Study: Semen samples were collected from the urology or fertility clinic of UUTH, St. Luke’s Hospital, Anua, and Ibom specialist hospital of Akwa Ibom State. However, laboratory assays were performed at the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt between May, 2018 and January, 2021.

Methodology: Semen specimens were collected after 3-5 days abstinence according to WHO criteria while seminal plasma were obtained from semen by spinning at 4500 rpm for 10 minutes and stored at -700C prior to laboratory analysis. Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) was used to determine the levels of heavy metals while ELISA methods were used to determine testosterone and GSH concentrations. TAC and fructose assays were carried out using spectrophotometric methods.

Results: Results showed that non-essential heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic correlated negatively with testosterone, fructose, and antioxidant activities of the seminal plasma in azoospermic subjects. In addition, lead and mercury correlated positively in the azoospermic subjects. Meanwhile, selenium, an essential heavy metal, correlated positively with testosterone and antioxidant activities in oligospermic subjects with 11-19 x106cells/ml.

Conclusion: The levels of non-essential heavy metals in azoospermic subjects precipitated poor anti-oxidant and testosterone activities inducing oxidative stress while in oligospermic subjects, selenium and antioxidant parameters and testosterone were in good association indicating improved antioxidant activities and testicular function.