Effect of serum antioxidant levels on sperm function in infertile male

Antioxidant and reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in male infertility. Antioxidants are compounds which scavenge formation or oppose of the actions ROS. Spermatozoa are particularly vulnerable to ROS because of inherent deficiencies in intracellular antioxidant enzyme protection, thus total body antioxidant capacity become more substantial to protect sperm. In this study to try to evaluate the role of serum total antioxidant capacity, uric acid, glutathione, total thiols, ferritin, albumin and malodialdehyde in male infertility. 66 men included in this study 40 were infertile and 26 were healthy fertile. Results showed a significant decrease in sperm progressive motility and a significant increase in sperm tail abnormality, also there were a significant decrease in serum total antioxidant capacity, uric acid and albumin in infertile group. Because of lack of the intracellular antioxidant enzymes sperm cannot protect plasma membrane that surrounds the tail, the protection depends on the antioxidant defense afforded by the seminal plasma and on the entire body antioxidant capacity. Decrease of serum antioxidant capacity, uric acid and albumin may cause destroy of sperm tail membrane and this may lowering of sperm progressive motility.