Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress is a common pathology seen in approximately half of all infertile men. In a normal situation, the seminal plasma contains antioxidant mechanisms which are likely to quench these reactive oxygen species. However, during infertility complications these antioxidant mechanisms may downplay and create a situation which is called oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO), protein peroxide (PPO) and activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in blood and semen samples of an infertile male population from North-East India. METHOD: We measured LPO, PPO, SOD and GPX in a total of 50 infertile individuals. For the study 20 fertile donors served as the control group. RESULT: Patients with male factor infertility had significantly higher LPO and PPO levels (60.84 ± 3.55 and 72.84 ± 3.66; P < 0.001) compared with controls (40.20 ± 4.33 and 59.93 ± 5.24) in blood. In semen also, the same trend was found with significantly higher LPO and PPO levels (200.27 ± 6.25 and 149.80 ± 11.47; P < 0.001) compared with controls (116.51 ± 5.49 and 59.10 ± 4.62). The SOD and GPX enzymes in blood (3.40 ± 1.06 and 0.16 ± 0.01; P < 0.001) and in semen (2.42 ± 1.32 and 0.24 ± 0.015; P < 0.001) showed a significantly lower activity when compared with their respective controls (4.85 ± 0.78; 0.36 ± 0.05 and 4.24 ± 0.89; 0.65 ± 0.03). The SOD and GPX activity when compared with the LPO and PPO values, showed a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that oxidative stress is associated with male factor infertility. This assessment may help in the treatment of this male infertility by suitable antioxidants.