Objective: To measure the zinc content of human sperm flagella and to analy
ze its relation to sperm motility.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Center of Dermatology and Andrology.
Patient(s): Semen samples collected from 90 andrology patients and healthy
donors after 3-5 days of sexual abstinence.
Intervention(s): None.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm morphology after Shorr staining, sperm motil
ity, and patient age were recorded. In addition, zinc concentrations in the
seminal plasma, sperm heads, and flagella were determined with the use of
atomic absorption spectrometry.
Result(s): The mean zinc concentration was 144.3 mg/L in the seminal plasma
and 146.9 mg/L in the whole ejaculate and was significantly correlated wit
h parameters of motility. The sperm heads contained only 6.7% of the zinc t
hat was present in the whole spermatozoon. The zinc concentration in the fl
agella was negatively correlated with sperm motility and velocity. In addit
ion, it was positively correlated with the percentage of abnormally blue-st
ained flagella and the age of the patients.
Conclusion(s): Our results clearly demonstrate the importance of zinc elimi
nation during epididymal sperm maturation for functional competence of the
outer dense fibers and, therefore, generation of motility. (Fertil Steril(R
) 1999;71:1138-43. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)
.