The Relations between Cadmium, Zinc and Oxidative stress in Oligoasthenozoospermic Men

Background: Cadmium (Cd) has been found to accumulate in male reproductive
organs and induce male reproductive toxicity in several animal species. Objective: To
study the levels of Cadmium and Zinc in blood and seminal plasma of
oligoathenozoospermic men and to investigate their possible role and their relation to
oxidative stress in pathophysiology of oligoathenozoospermia. Study Design: Blood
and seminal plasma were collected from thirty primary infertile males with
oligoasthenozoospermic, and 30 control subjects. Cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn),
malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were estimated in
all samples. Results: The serum and seminal concentrations of Cd and MDA of
oligpasthenozoospermic group were significantly higher than those of control groups.
Levels of blood and seminal plasma of Zn and SOD activity of infertile men were
significantly lower than those of control group. The seminal plasma levels of Cd of
oligoathenozoospermic group were correlated positively and significantly with MDA
levels in seminal plasma. However, there were significant negative correlations
between seminal plasma levels of Cd and seminal levels of Zn and seminal SOD
activity ,sperm count and sperm motility .There were inverse correlations between
seminal plasma levels of MDA and SOD activity, sperm count and sperm motility in
oligoathenozoospermic group. The results also shows that there was a positive and
significant correlation between the seminal SOD activity and sperm motility in
infertile men. Seminal plasma levels of Zinc were negatively and significantly
correlated with sperm motility of oligoathenozoospermic group. Conclusion:
Cadmium may have adverse impacts on semen quality and male reproductive health.
The pathophysiological mechanism of high Cadmium levels in oligoathenozoospermic
men is probably through induction of oxidative stress. Lowered levels of zinc may
contribute to infertility through its significant effects on semen motility. There is
competitive mechanism of interaction between Zn in relation to Cd in
oligoathenozoospermic men