The Activities of Catalase in the Spermatozoa and Seminal Plasma of Patients with Asethenospermia; and their Relationship with Oxidants and Antioxidants

Abstract

The exact oxidants and antioxidants status in the seminal and
spermatozoal patients with asthenospermia is still not clear. To add a new
insight to the question, changes in the seminal and spermatozoal lipid
peroxidation products (MDA), levels of glutathione (GSH) and activities of
antioxidant enzyme catalase were measured in patients with asthenospermia.
This work was undertaken to assess oxidative stress and antioxidant status in
patients with asthenospermia. The study was conducted on 30 patients and
compared to 20 controls. Statistical analysis between group 1 (controls) and group
2 (patients) was performed by the student's t - test. It was observed that there was a
significant increase in seminal and spermatozoal catalase activity and MDA levels;
and a significant decrease in seminal and spermatozoal GSH in patients with
asthenospermia when compared to controls. The results of this study suggest
higher oxygen-free radical production, evidenced by increased MDA
levels and catalase activities and decreased GSH levels, support to the oxidative
stress in asthenospermia. The increased activities of antioxidant enzyme may be a
compensatory regulation in response to increased oxidative stress.