NONENZYMATIC ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF HUMAN SEMINAL PLASMA

Objective: To examine the nonenzymatic antioxidant properties of human seminal plasma. Design: Determination of total (peroxyl) radical-trap ping antioxidant parameter and malondialdehyde concentration in semina l plasma of 112 men attending IVF-ET or intracytoplasmic sperm injecti on (ICSI) programs. Setting: University-based center for reproductive medicine. Patient(s): Normozoospermic men, ages 25 to 50 years, of fer tility proved by a pregnancy resulting from IVF-ET, and men ages 25 to 50 years with negative IVF-ET or ICSI outcome, distinguished by their smoking status. Intervention(s): Seminal plasma was obtained from eja culates collected for IVF-ET or ICSI procedures. Main Outcome Measure( s): Total (peroxyl) radical-trapping antioxidant parameter and malondi aldehyde concentrations. Result(s): No significant differences for tot al (peroxyl)-radical-trapping antioxidant parameter were observed betw een normozoospermic IVF-ET or asthenozoospermic ICSI patients; neither was a difference revealed for pregnancy-positive or -negative couples within those groups. Age, smoking status, or increased leukocyte coun t had no effect on total (peroxyl) radical-trapping antioxidant parame ter or malondialdehyde concentrations in seminal plasma. Conclusion(s) : Nonenzymatic antioxidant activity in seminal plasma does not reflect sperm fecundity ability. (C) 1997 by American Society for Reproductiv e Medicine.