P-21: Study of The Effect of Oral Zinc Supplementation on Superoxide Radical Scavengers in Spermatozoa of Patients with Asthenospermia

Background: Oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant levels have been projected as a potential factors involved in the pathophysiology of diverse male infertility types, including asthenospermia. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the male reproductive tract has become an actual concern because of their probable noxious effects, at high levels, on physical properties of sperm quality. ROS are extremely reactive oxidizing agents, which a member of the class of free radicals. The present study was conducted to study the effect of zinc supplementation on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of semen along with oxido-sensitive index level in the seminal plasma of asthenospermic patients. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 60 fertile (age 31.6 ± 3.3 year) and 60 subfertile (age 32.5 ± 3.23 year) men with asthenozoospermia between July 2012 to July 2013, from couples who had consulted the infertility clinic of Babil hospital of maternity (Hilla city/ IRAQ). The sub-fertile group treated with zinc sulfate, every participant took two capsules of zinc sulfate per day for three months (each one 220 mg). Semen samples were obtained (before and after zinc sulfate supplementation). After liquefaction seminal fluid at room temperature, routine semen analyses were performed. Oxido-sensitive index level, catalase like activity and various sperm parameters were compared among fertile controls and infertile patients (before and after treatment with zinc sulfate). Results: Compared with healthy controls, the value of the oxidosensitive index was found to decrease significantly in seminal plasma and spermatozoa of patients with asthenozoospermia. Catalaselike activity is increased significantly in spermatozoa and plasma of patients with asthenospermia compared with that of healthy controls. Conclusion: Zinc supplementation restores oxido-sensitive index and catalase-like activity in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic subjects to normal ranges. Volume of semen, progressive sperm motility percentage and total normal sperm count were increased after zinc sulfate supplementation.