Relationships between heavy metal concentrations in three different body fluids and male reproductive parameters: a pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundAnimal studies have shown the reproductive toxicity of a number of heavy metals. Very few human observational studies have analyzed the relationship between male reproductive function and heavy metal concentrations in diverse biological fluids.MethodsThe current study assessed the associations between seminal and hormonal parameters and the concentration of the 3 most frequent heavy metal toxicants (lead, cadmium and mercury) in three different body fluids. Sixty one men attending infertility clinics that participated in a case-control study to explore the role of environmental toxins and lifestyles on male infertility were analyzed. Concentration of lead, cadmium and mercury were measured in blood and seminal plasma and whole blood using anodic stripping voltammetry and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum samples were analyzed for follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone. Semen analyses were performed according to World Health Organization criteria. Mann-Whitney test and Spearman's rank correlations were used for unadjusted analyses. Multiple linear regression models were performed controlling for age, body mass index and number of cigarettes per day.ResultsThere were no significant differences between cases and controls in the concentrations of heavy metals in any of the three body fluids. In multivariate analyses using all subjects no significant associations were found between serum hormone levels and metal concentrations. However there was a significant positive association between the percentage of immotile sperms and seminal plasma levels of lead and cadmium.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the presence of lead and cadmium in the reproductive tract of men may be related to a moderate alteration of their seminal parameters.

Reproductive Toxicity of Metals in Men

“…All of these studies have been adjusted for the infl uence of age and current smoking (66,(105)(106)(107)(108)(109), and for other metals (66,105,(107)(108)(109). Other studies (110)(111)(112)(113)(114) have not found any association between low-level lead exposure and semen quality or endocrine function in men.…”

Paternal exposure to low-dose lead acetate: effect on implantation rate,pregnancy outcome, and sex ratio in mice

“…Hernandez-Ochoa et al (9) found that low lead concentrations in seminal fluid (0.2 µg/dL) were associated with impaired semen quality, motility, morphology, and sperm concentration. In contrast, Mendiola et al (10) found a relationship between levels of lead in seminal fluid and low motility, but found that measured lead concentrations of 9.75 µg/dL in blood and 2.78 µg/dL in blood plasma had no significant effect on morphology, motility, or sperm concentration. Meeker et al (11) measured a lead concentration of 1.5 µg/dL in blood and reported no effect on sperm concentration or motility.…”

Kadmiyumun erkek üreme sistemi üzerine etkisi

“…[ [43][44][45] Kadmiyumun erkek üreme sistemi üzerine etkilerinin incelendiği insan çalışmaları sonucunda, özetle; testiküler nekroz ile serum testosteron düzeyinde ve sperm sayısın-da azalma olduğu, serum kadmiyum seviyesi 1,5 μg/L'den daha fazla olan erkek bireylerde, oluşan her ejakülatta, sperm sayısında, hareketliliğinde ve yoğunluğunda azalma, olgunlaşmamış sperm şekli ve anomalili sperm oranında artma gözlendiği belirtilmektedir.…”