Ascorbic Acid in Human Seminal Plasma: Determination and Its Relationship to Sperm Quality

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are physiologically involved in functions like sperm maturation, capacitation and acrosome reaction, but their excess is involved in male infertility. Antioxidants in seminal plasma (SP) are an important factor balancing physiologic and harmful ROS activities. In this study, we determined and compared the full profiles of the water- and fat-soluble antioxidants in SP and serum of 15 healthy fertile subjects (ranging between the ages of 35 and 42 years). Ejaculates were obtained after 2–5 days of sexual abstinence. After liquefaction and withdrawal of an aliquot for the sperm count, samples were centrifuged to obtain SP. Thirty min after semen donation, a venous blood sample was collected from each subject. Donors with lower SP concentrations of ascorbic acid (n = 5) or α-tocopherol (n = 5) received a 4 week oral administration of either vitamin C (100 mg/day) or vitamin E (30 mg/day). They were then re-assayed to determine the SP and serum levels of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol. SP and serum samples were properly processed and analyzed by HPLC methods suitable to determine water (ascorbic acid, glutathione (GSH) and uric acid) and fat-soluble (all-trans-retinoic acid, all-trans-retinol, α-tocopherol, carotenoids and coenzyme Q10) antioxidants. Data demonstrate that only ascorbic acid is higher in SP than in serum (SP/serum ratio = 4.97 ± 0.88). The other water-soluble antioxidants are equally distributed in the two fluids (GSH SP/serum ratio = 1.14 ± 0.34; uric acid SP/serum ratio = 0.82 ± 0.12). All fat-soluble antioxidants are about 10 times less concentrated in SP than in serum. In donors treated with vitamin C or vitamin E, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol significantly increased in both fluids. However, the SP/serum ratio of ascorbic acid was 4.15 ± 0.45 before and 3.27 ± 0.39 after treatment, whilst those of α-tocopherol were 0.11 ± 0.03 before and 0.10 ± 0.02 after treatment. The results of this study, by showing the peculiar composition in water- and fat-soluble antioxidants SP, indicate that it is likely that still-unknown mechanisms allow ascorbic acid accumulation in SP against a concentration gradient. SP mainly relies its defenses on water- rather than fat-soluble antioxidants and on the mechanisms ensuring their transfer from serum.

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Ascorbic acid in human seminal plasma is protected from iron-mediated oxidation, but is potentially exposed to copper-induced damage

Human Reproduction ◽

10.1093/humrep/12.8.1699 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 1699-1705 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

A. Menditto ◽

D. Pietraforte ◽

M. Minetti

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Human Seminal Plasma ◽

Mediated Oxidation

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The determination of ascorbic acid and uric acid in human seminal plasma using an HPLC with UV detection

Journal of Chromatography B ◽

10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.08.007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 879 (26) ◽

pp. 2834-2839 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Roman Kanďár ◽

Petra Drábková ◽

Radek Hampl

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Uric Acid ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Uv Detection ◽

Human Seminal Plasma

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Impact of Seminal Plasma Trace Elements on Human Sperm Motility Parameters

Romanian Journal of Internal Medicine ◽

10.1515/rjim-2017-0034 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 15-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohammad Mostakhdem Hashemi ◽

Nasser Behnampour ◽

Mojgan Nejabat ◽

Afsaneh Tabandeh ◽

Behrouz Ghazi-Moghaddam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Semen Analysis ◽

Sperm Concentration ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Human Sperm ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Human Seminal Plasma

Abstract Introduction. Human seminal plasma contains a variety of macro and trace elements including magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) that have essential roles in normal functioning of semen and its quality. The imbalance of these elements has been reported in several pathologic and male infertility disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the levels of these elements in seminal plasma samples, their relationships with each other and their impact on sperm motility. Methods. Overall, 192 males (96 normospermic and 96 asthenospermic males) were enrolled in the study. Semen samples were collected by masturbation and computer-assisted/aided semen analysis of sperm motility was performed. The samples were centrifuged and seminal levels of Mg, Cu, Zn and Fe were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results. The levels of Zn did not differ between the two groups, while the levels of Mg, Cu, and Fe were significantly higher in normospermic males. Fe showed a positive correlation with Mg and Cu in asthenospermic group. However, a negative relationship was found between Mg and Fe levels and between Mg and sperm concentration in the normospermic group. Fe levels were higher in the normospermic group compared to the asthenospermic group. Nevertheless, increased Fe levels caused a decrease in most of sperm motility fractions. Conclusion: Elements play major roles in male fertility and directly affect sperm quality. According to the results of this study, the levels of Zn do not affect the sperm quality and motility, while Fe, Cu and Mg are decreased in males with sperm motility problems. Nevertheless, Fe levels can adversely affect sperm motility in normospermic men.

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Ascorbic acid and urate in human seminal plasma: determination and interrelationships with chemiluminescence in washed semen

Human Reproduction ◽

10.1093/humrep/10.1.110 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 110-115 ◽

Cited By ~ 87

Author(s):

J.J. Thiele ◽

H.J. Freisleben ◽

J. Fuchs ◽

F.R. Ochsendorf

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Human Seminal Plasma

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Resistin in Human Seminal Plasma: Relationship with Lipid Peroxidation, CAT Activity, GSH/GSSG Ratio, and Semen Parameters

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2019/2192093 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Elena Moretti ◽

Lucia Micheli ◽

Daria Noto ◽

Anna Ida Fiaschi ◽

Andrea Menchiari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Peroxidation ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Semen Analysis ◽

Group Versus ◽

Annexin V ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Human Seminal Plasma ◽

Apoptosis And Necrosis ◽

Infertile Patients

Resistin is an adipokine involved in inflammation and able to induce the expression of other proinflammatory cytokines. It is known that, in human semen, resistin is correlated with inflammatory cytokines and sperm quality. The aim of this prospective study was to explore the potential relationship between resistin, lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio in semen samples of infertile patients with leukocytospermia (no. 19), infertile patients with varicocele (no. 17), and fertile men (no. 17). Semen analysis was performed following the WHO guidelines, and sperm apoptosis and necrosis were evaluated with annexin V/propidium iodide assay. Seminal plasma samples were used to determine resistin levels by an immunological method, MDA concentration by a HPLC analysis with UV detection, GSH/GSSG ratio by an enzymatic method, CAT activity by a spectrophotometric method. The results showed that, in both groups of infertile patients, semen parameters were significantly reduced (P<0.001) and sperm apoptosis and necrosis percentages were increased. Resistin levels were significantly higher in leukocytospermia and varicocele groups (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively) as well as MDA concentration (P<0.001) compared to controls. The MDA level was also significantly increased in the leukocytospermia group versus the varicocele group (P<0.05). The GSH/GSSG ratio was higher in fertile controls than the leukocytospermia group (P<0.05) and the varicocele group (P<0.001) and in the leukocytospermia group versus the varicocele group (P<0.05). Both the leukocytospermia and varicocele groups showed increased values of CAT activities (P<0.001) than controls. Briefly, the correlation between variables, calculated in the whole patient population, showed that resistin levels positively correlated with MDA levels, CAT activity, sperm apoptosis, and necrosis and negatively with sperm parameters and GSH/GSSG ratio. These results support an active role of resistin in an inflammatory process causing LPO, increase of CAT activity, and decrease of GSH/GSSG ratio in seminal plasma of infertile men vs. fertile controls.

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