Serum Zinc and Copper Changes in Male Infertility

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study to detect the correlation between trace elements such as zinc, copper and
spermatogenesis, sperm viability and motility.
Methodology: Serum and semen samples were collected from one hundred twenty patients with age ranged (20-
50 years) attending the high institute for Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment/ Baghdad University, in
addition to thirty fertile males their age comparable to that of patients. The period of this study was from June
2004 until the end of October 2004.
Results: The result of routine seminal fluid analysis of all infertile males was divided according to WHO, (1999) limit
into four groups: Asthenospermia(A), Asthenoteratospermia(AT), Oligoasthenoteratospermia OAT and
Azoospermia(Azoo), each group includes thirty patient. Results showed highly significant decrease in serum zinc
concentration in different infertile groups compared to control group, and a slight increase in serum copper
concentration in different infertile group. With advancing age, all the infertile groups, as well as the control group,
had a slight decrease in serum concentration of zinc, and a slight increase in serum copper concentration.
Recommendations: Further studies are needed to evaluate the levels of different biochemical parameters in
seminal plasma of different infertile groups.