LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND HUMAN SPERM MOTILITY - PROTECTIVE ROLE OF VITAMIN-E

Asthenospermia is the main factor of male infertility among patients c onsulting the Asir Infertility Center in Abha, Saudi Arabia. Lipid per oxidation occurring in both the seminal plasma and spermatozoa was est imated by malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Spermatozoal MDA concen tration was higher in men with decreased sperm motility. The MDA conce ntration in the seminal plasma exhibited no relationship with sperm co ncentration, sperm motility, the number of immotile spermatozoa, or ev en the absence of spermatozoa. The MDA concentration in sperm pellet s uspensions of asthenospermic and oligoasthenospermic patients was almo st twice that of the normospermic males. The MDA concentration in the sperm pellet suspension from normospermic or oligospermic patients was about 10% that in the seminal plasma. However, the MDA concentration in the sperm pellet suspension of asthenospermic or oligoasthenospermi c patients was about 15% that in the seminal plasma. Treatment of asth enospermic patients with oral Vitamin E significantly decreased the MD A concentration in spermatozoa and improved sperm motility. Eleven out of the 52 treated patients (21%) impregnated their spouses; nine of t he spouses successfully ended with normal term deliveries, whereas the other two aborted in the first trimester. No pregnancies were reporte d in the spouses of the placebo-treated patients.