Human seminal plasma nitric oxide: Correlation with sperm morphology and sperm count.

ABSTRACT

It has been proposed that nitric oxide plays an important role in male infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of seminal plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) with sperm morphology and concentration. Specimens were divided into groups according to sperm count into normozoospermia (n=68) and oligozoospermia (n=48); according to sperm morphology into normal and abnormal morphology. NO activity was measured by Cortas and Winkind method utilising UV spectrophotometer. Mean NO concentrations in micromol/L were 35.27±12.14, 45.34±13.47 in normozoospermic and oligozoospermic group respectively. Mean NO concentrations in micromol/L were 36.75±11.58 and 46.79±11.58 in normal and abnormal morphology respectively. There was negative correlation between NO concentrations with sperm concentration and sperm morphology (%). This study suggests a possible role of NO in pathophysiology of male infertility.