RESUMO
Semen samples were collected from 42 male heavy cigarette smokers [ages 27-35 y] before and two years after successful abstinence from smoking. Semen samples were also obtained from ten healthy volunteers who never smoked. Those later served as negative control. All Selected subjects had no known cause that may alter the process of spermatogenesis The collected semen samples were evaluated for sperm density, motility and percentage of abnormal forms. Serum testosterone was assayed by RIA in control persons and in smokers before and after their successful quitting. Seminal fluids from all subjects were also examined by transmission electron microscope in an attempt to visualize accurately the morphologic characteristics of the sperms. All the investigated parameters of semen quality were significantly altered in smokers compared to nonsmokers testosterone level was significantly reduced in smokers and abnormal forms of sperms were encountered more. Two years after cessation of smoking, significant improvement was found in all the semen parameters together with a parallel rising up of the serum testosterone level. In spite of the marked improvement in semen quality and testosterone level after cessation of smoking, most of these parameters were still significantly different from the control the result of this work proved beyond doubt the harmful effects of smoking on potential male reproductive capacity evidenced by bad semen quality, abnormal hormonal profile and distorted ultrastructure of spermatozoa However, these effects were at least partially reversible and improved after prohibition of cigarette smoking for two years