Archives of Andrology, 53:2123, 2007 Copyright # Informa Healthcare ISSN: 0148-5016 print=1521-0375 online DOI: 10.

1080/01485010600888961

Correlation of Seminal Parameters with Serum Lipid Profile and Sex Hormones
A. Ergu se, K. Aydos, n, S.K. Ko A. Ata, and A. Avci
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Department of Physiology, Department of Bioistatistics, Department of Research Center on Infertility, Department of Physiology, and Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

ABSTRACT The phospholipids and fatty acid composition of sperm are altered under the influence of serum lipids on impaired seminal parameters in infertile men. We studied the correlation of the serum lipid profile and sex hormone results of a group of infertile men with sperm characteristics of 18 infertile men. Semen samples were collected and analyzed. Serum fasted and post-meal glucose levels, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglyceride, FSH, LH, and testosterone measurements were performed. The increased serum VLDL, total triglyceride, and testosterone values were significantly correlated with decreased sperm motility. Serum FSH values were also inversely correlated with normal sperm morphology. The increased VLDL impaired seminal parameters; additionally, increased triglycerides may have deleterious effects on spermatogenesis. Deterioration is related with increased serum VLDL and triglyceride levels.
KEYWORDS hormones, lipids, semen, serum

INTRODUCTION
During sperm maturation and capacitating, the lipid composition of germ cell membranes is considerably modified [3, 4]. Certain molecules are involved in the differentiation of the sperm plasma membrane and consequently affect the fertilization process through sperm-zona interaction and the fusion of sperm and egg membranes [1]. The phospholipids and fatty acid composition of sperm is altered in infertile men [3, 9]. Moreover, the effects of steroid hormones on sperm membrane was followed by some steroid-dependent structural modifications promoting the resting membrane potential across the plasma membrane decrease [2]. This effect may have an important role in the capacitating and penetration to the ova. It has been very difficult to expose a certain correlation between the serum lipid profile and seminal parameters. High lipid levels exert direct adverse effects at the testicular level [12]. Although in rabbits with hypercholesterolemia, the lipid domains in the plasma membrane of the acrosomal region changed when the gametes went through the epididymis [5]. In the present study, so as to clarify the influence of serum lipids on impaired seminal parameters, we correlated the serum lipid profile and sex hormone results of infertile men with sperm characteristics.
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Address correspondence to Ahmet n, M.D., Ankara University Tip Ergu ltesi, Fizyoloji Anabilim Dali, Faku 06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: ergun@medicine.ankara.edu.tr

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FIGURE 1 (a) Scatterplot relation between VLDL and motility. (b) Scatterplot relation between triglyceride and motility. (c) Scatterplot relation between total testosterone and motility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The patient population consisted of 18 infertile men (mean age was 34 years with a range of 2842 years). At least 12 months of infertility and no demonstrable cause of infertility in the female partner were considered as the male infertility criteria. The height and weight were measured. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Semen was collected, liquefied, and evaluated [10, 16]. Serum fasted and post-meal glucose levels, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), and triglyceride measurements were performed by using HDL-Cholesterol kit, LDL-Cholesterol kit, VLDL-Cholesterol kit, and Triglyceride kit in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Endocrine evaluation included radioimmunoassay of serum FSH, LH, testosterone (T), and insulin. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearmans rank correlation analysis.

decreased testosterone values are significantly correlated with decreased sperm motility (Figures 1(a), (b), and (c)). Serum FSH values were inversely correlated with normal sperm morphology. Other parameters do not show significant correlation with any of the seminal findings.

DISCUSSION
The lipid and fatty acid compositions of spermatozoa seem to be the important predictors of fertility [3]. The deterioration of the spermatozoa plasma membrane leads to an increase of lysophosphatidylcholine with possible influence on the acrosome reaction [7]. Lipid abnormalities, especially high mean lipid levels were indicated to be common in azoospermic infertile men, exerting direct adverse effects at the testicular level [12]. VLDL, which transports fatty acids from liver to peripheral tissues, is shown to be increasing fat mass weight of the gonads [15]. Triglycerides, which are metabolic energy sources in sperm have substrates to produce glycerol in mature boar sperm [11]. However, increased triglycerides may have deleterious effects on spermatogenesis. Indeed, centrifugation of sperm immediately after liquefaction may avoid
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RESULTS
Mean sperm concentration, forward motility (a b), and normal morphology values were 36 34 106=ml, 26 19% and 4.6 5.5%, respectively. Increased serum VLDL and total triglyceride, and
A. Ergu n et al.

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triglycerides by the sperm [13]. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia as well as lysophosphatidylcholine supplement in male rabbits decreased capacity of sperm acrosome reaction [4]. Testicular sperm production may be correlated with serum FSH level. Serum FSH levels increase in the cases of primary testicular failure [8] due to impaired inhibin B production by Sertoli cells, which indicates spermatogenetic failure. Thus, high levels of abnormal morphology shapes in semen might be caused by testicular dysfunction [7, 8]. Harmful consequences of high concentration of cholesterol in the interstitial testicular tissue, within the somniferous tubules, may be secondary to the secretory deficiency of the Leydig cells [14]. Deterioration is associated with increased serum VLDL and triglyceride levels. Compromised fertility may be the result of the decreased testosterone concentration secondary to the impaired testicular function.

REFERENCES
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Semen/Serum Lipids