Effect of seminal plasma from cigarette smokers on sperm acrosin activity

Thirty semen specimens included in the study were taken from non-smokers and another thirty specimens from heavy smokers. Each specimen was divided into two portions. One portion was centrifuged and the pellet was resuspended in an equal volume of S.P. from the opposite participant group [i.e. spermatozoa from a non-smoker into S.P. of a smoker and vice versa]. The other portion remained without processing. Both portions were tested for sperm acrosin activity by gelatin substrate film technique. Scoring the diameters of the haloes around sperm heads did evaluation of the acrosin activity. Before processing, the haloes of the nonsmokers were larger than those of smokers indicating that their acrosin activity is higher. After processing, the haloes around the heads of spermatozoa in nonsmoker group specimens incubated in S.P. of smokers became smaller than before processing indicating that their acrosin activity became lower. On the other hand, haloes around the heads of spermatozoa in smoker group specimens incubated in S.P. of nonsmokers became larger than before processing.These effects of S.P. from both groups on acrosin activity have added to the detrimental effects of smokers S.P. on nonsmokers spermatozoa

Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on sperm acrosin activity in cigarette smokers

Thirty heavy smoking men randomly divided into one of two subgroups [each contained 15 men]. Each participant from the first subgroup of smokers took 1000-mg AA tablets daily for 4 weeks. For the same period, the second subgroup took placebo tablets, serving as a negative control Another fifteen of the non-smokers participated also as a separate group and took 1000-mg tablets of AA/day, serving as a positive control. Semen analyses of all were normal. Acrosin activity of sperms by gelatin substrate film technique was surveyed. Serum and seminal plasma ascorbic acid levels were measured and expressed as mg/dL. Statistically significant increases in the acrosin activity and ascorbic acid levels in the treated subgroup were observed weekly. After the 4 weeks of supplementation, no significant difference was detected between the treated subgroup and nonsmokers. However, no significant weekly changes were observed in the nonsmokers or the placebo subgroup. The increases in AA levels and acrosin activity in the treated smokers indicate that increased ascorbic acid bioavailability was associated with the pronounced improvement in sperm acrosin activity. This useful effect of AA supplementation on acrosin activity may be due to its reductive properties nullifying the possible injurious effects of the reactive oxidants of nicotine or nicotine metabolites