Cigarette smoking and spermatozoa I. histochemical differences between spermatozoa of cigarette smokers and non-smokers

Thirty semen specimens were taken from non-smokers and another thirty specimens from heavy smokers. Sperms of both groups were examined histochemically for some enzymes concerned with energy production [adenosine triphosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase] and penetrating power [non-specific esterase and acrosin]. The histochemical reactions for these enzymes were lower in the sperms of the smokers than those of non-smokers revealing more aspects of the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking on spermatozoa