ABSTRACT
Fifty-five urban Egyptian males, aged 20-40, were assigned to two main groups to study the effects of their exposure to lead (Pb). Group I, infertile men (INF, n = 30), was divided into environmentally exposed (INF-E, n = 15) and environmentally and occupationally exposed (INF-EO, n = 15). A matching group (II) of fertile men (F, n = 25) was divided into fertile, environmentally exposed (F-E, n = 10), which was the control group, and fertile, environmentally and occupationally exposed (F-EO, n = 15). Semen parameters (i.e., count, morphology, motility, and volume), blood and semen Pb levels, and reproductive hormonal indices (i.e., serum testosterone, FSH, and LH) were measured in all subjects. Lead levels were always higher in blood than semen. Semen lead levels were significantly higher in all groups vs. the control (F-E) group. While no changes were observed in testosterone levels across groups, variable effects on LH and FSH levels were observed. Infertile-EO subjects showed a definite pattern of impaired semen parameters in comparison with infertile-E. No abnormalities were detected in hematologic, hepatic or renal function.
Subject(s)
Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects , Infertility, Male/chemically induced , Lead/adverse effects , Semen/chemistry , Semen/drug effects , Adult , Egypt/epidemiology , Humans , Infertility, Male/epidemiology , Lead/blood , Male , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Urban HealthABSTRACT
Determination of IgE level in serum and semen of 92 men by an enzymatic immuno-assay method verified its presence in semen of most of them (92.3%) in much smaller amount than that present in serum (2.6%). IgE levels in serum and semen were significantly correlated. Serum levels were significantly higher in men with obstructive azoospermia, specially when associated with infection. Serum levels of IgE were higher in the fertile men, and in cases without infection as compared with those with prostatitis though this difference was not significant.
