Association between seminal plasma neopterin and oxidative stress in male infertility: a case-control study

Background: Neopterin is a significant and sensitive marker in estimating the activity of cellular immune system. Oxidative stress plays a role in the etiology of male infertility. Increased reactive oxygen species is accompanied with increase in neopterin level. Hence neopterin may be involved in male infertility

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Objective: The objective of this case-control study was to determine neopterin level in idiopathic infertile and normospermic men; furthermore, to identify its relationship with oxidative stress markers including total oxidant, malondialdehyde, sperm DNA fragmentation, and total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma

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Materials and Methods: Forty seven infertile and forty three normospermic males were selected according to WHO criteria. Their semen and blood samples were taken; subsequently, the levels of neopterin, total oxidant, total antioxidant, malondialdehyde, and sperm DNA fragmentation were measured

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Results: The levels of neopterin, total oxidant, and malondialdehyde in seminal plasma of infertile males were significantly higher than those of normospermic group [p=0.038, 0.018, and 0.028, respectively]. Furthermore, sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men was higher than that of control group [p<0.001]. Moreover, total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma in infertile males was significantly lower than that of normospermic subjects [p=0.002]. No significant difference was observed in serum neopterin, total oxidant, and malondialdehyde between the infertile and normospermic groups

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Conclusion: The significant inverse correlation between seminal plasma neopterin and total antioxidant in the infertile males supports a possible role of neopterin in male infertility. Neopterin can be suggested as a marker in monitoring and diagnosis of idiopathic male infertility