Influence of oxidative stress on functional integrity of human spermatozoal membrane

Abstract

Objective : To study the relationship between lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa and changes in functional intergrity of human spermatozoa membrane in male subjects. Materials and Methods : Sixty eight male partners of infertile couples were included in the study. Status of oxidative stress was assessed by determining malondialdehyde (MDA) in seminal plasma. Functinal intergrity of sperm membrance was tested subjecting the sperm to hypo-osmotic test (HOS). The seminal plasma MDA levels were compared with seminogram parameters as well as with the results of HOS test using Pearson's coefficient of correlation (r) and significance of coefficient of correlation calculated from the table. Result : A significant but weak negative correlation was observed between seminal plasma MDA level and sperm concentration (r=-0.33,p<0.05), sperm motility (r=-0.37,p<0.05), sperm morphology (r=-0.37,p<0.05), and percentage of HOS positive spermatozoa (r=-0.33,p<0.05). Percentages of HOS positive spermatozoa also exhibited a significant but weak negative relationship with sperm concentration (r=-0.47,p<0.01), sperm motility (r=-0.48,p<0.01), sperm morphology (r=-0.49,p<0.01). Conclusion : Lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa is likely to affect the functional intergrity of the spermatozoa membrane.