Effect of Selenium in Treatment of Male Infertility

The infertility rates vary between countries and from region to regions [1]. It is documented that around 15% of married couples are infertile and that approximately 50% of infertility is due to male factor [2]. Male infertility is defined as the failure to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse [3,4]. Spermatozoa like all cells living in aerobic conditions, constantly face the oxygen (O2) paradox: O2 is required to support life, but its metabolites such as Reactive Oxygen Species ROS can modify cell functions, endanger cell survival or both [5]. Hence, ROS must be continuously inactivated to keep only a small amount necessary to maintain normal cell functions [6]. Malondialdehyde MDA is reactive species occurs naturally and is a marker for oxidative stress [7]. Glutathione itself also plays an important role in the protection of cells against oxidative and electrophilic stress caused by ROS and radiation [8,9]. Zinc salts have been shown to protect against oxidative damage and glutathione depletion in mice.

Testosterone synthesis is zinc dependent in human. The sperms take up zinc from fluid after ejaculation, therefore, zinc content of sperm cell will increase after the exposure to seminal fluid, and it affected the maturation of spermatozoa [10]. Zinc deficient diet affect oxidative stress due to decrease in glutathione & increase in MDA in both semen & serum [11,12]. (Se) is an essential dietary micronutrient required for maintenance of male fertility. [13] About 20-40% of male infertility is considered to be due to deficient sperm production to which selenium deficiency has been linked [14]. The biological functions associated with selenium besides male fertility include prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease, viral mutation, endocrine and immune function as well as modulating inflammatory response [15]. Limited data is available on the effects of selenium on male reproduction. Hurst et al .reported that fertile males had significantly higher selenium levels in their seminal fluid than infertile men. This study shows the importance of selenium in male reproduction and the probable relationship between male infertility and selenium [16].

A longitudinal study in which samples were obtained from urology clinic in Tikrit teaching hospital, private clinic, from 1-11- 2009 to 1-9-2010. A questionnaire was prepared to obtain the information from the infertile men before semen analysis which include name, age, job, smoking, marriage duration, surgical operation, chronic disease and genetic problem. Twelve infertile men were treated with capsules containing selenium (50micg) once daily. MDA determination is based on the colorimetric reaction with Thio Barbituric Acid (TBA) at 90-100 °C and pH 2-3 for 15minutes to form pink color product, which can be measured by spectrophotometer, this performed at the Central Laboratory in Tikrit University.

Semen or serum (GSH) was determined by the modified method of Tietz, 1999, and depended procedure on used Elleman’s solution. Semen or serum (GSH) were performed at the Central Laboratory in Tikrit University. All the hormonal assays were performed at the Central Laboratory in Tikrit University using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELIZA) method. Zinc and magnesium concentrations in human plasma and semen were determined in North Gas Company by means of atomic-absorption spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis done.

The sperm count, motility, viability & normal morphology are increase significantly after treatment with selenium as shown in (Table 1). Present study supported these results that low dietary intake of antioxidants (Se) and high levels of oxidizing agents in semen have been associated with decreased motility, count, viability and abnormal morphology in both human and animal sperm [17]. Wong et al. [18]. Show that antioxidants may be particularly important in protecting human sperm from peroxidative damage due to the high amount of poly-unsaturated fatty acids in sperm. Akinloye et al. [19] examined the selenium status of idiopathic infertile Nigerian males. In this study, selenium concentrations in the sera and seminal plasma of 60 infertile males (40 oligospermia and 20 azoospermia) and 40males with proven evidence of fertility (normospermia; control group) were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Table 1: Changes in semen parameters before and after treatment with selenium.

$=mean+/- standard deviation *=(p<0.01)

The results of the study were correlated with spermatogram and hormonal levels in order to determine their relationship to male infertility. The mean serum concentrations of selenium were found to be significantly higher in cases of oligospermia when compared to cases of azoospermia and a significant inverse correlation was also observed between serum selenium levels and sperm count. It was also observed that seminal plasma selenium levels correlated with sperm motility, viability and morphology. However, in a double-blind study of infertile men with reduced sperm motility, supplementation with selenium (100 mcg per day for three months) significantly increased sperm motility [20]. Low selenium in testis appears to underlie the impaired male fertility. Selenium is essential for spermatogenesis [21]. A deficiency of selenium in the diet results in increased oxidative stress negatively affecting spermatogenesis [22].

Table 2: Changes in seminal plasma element before and after treatment with selenium.

$=mean+/- standard deviation *=(p<0.01)

In another study, 69 infertile Scottish men were given either selenium or selenium in combination with vitamins A, C and E for three months. At the end of the clinical trial, all the patients showed significant improvements in sperm motility [20]. While Lerda reported that selenium by itself protected against oxidative DNA damage in human sperm thereby enhancing sperm motility and viability [23]. While (Table 2), Show that there are a high significant of semen zinc & Mg, parameters post-treated in each infertile men compared to pre-treatment. The high significant values are due to the effectiveness each treatments.

The MDA was decreased significantly after treatment with selenium. In a study conducted by Keskes- Ammar et al. [24] it was observed that vitamin E and selenium supplementation significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) & increase glutathione concentrations in infertile men. Table 3 shows that serum zinc concentration was not significantly increased of infertile men after treatment with selenium 0.837±0.11 comparing this increment with the levels before treatment 0.61±0.12 with a recorded increments of up to 27.1%. In regard the serum Mg concentrations, they were significantly (p<0.01) increased in patients treated by selenium 19.43±2.03 as compared with before treatment 15.22±2.9. The study observe an increase in serum Mg up to 21.6%.

Table 3: changes in serum element before and after treatment with selenium.

$=mean+/- standard deviation *=(p<0.01)

Table 4: Changes in serum hormonal levels before and after treatment with selenium.

$=mean+/- standard deviation *=(p<0.01)

The testosterone, FSH & LH are increase significantly after treatment with selenium. It was also observed that serum selenium levels showed a positive correlation with serum testosterone levels (Table 4). The authors concluded that selenium appears to have a positive influence on Leydig cells, thus influencing the secretion of testosterone [19]. It also could be due to indirect effect mediated by increase level of serum zinc. Selenium is considered to be essential for normal spermatogenesis of mammals and the critical role it plays is principally mediated by two selenoproteins, namely Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase (PHGPx) and selenoprotein P. Laboratory evidence has shown that PHGPx is the major selenoprotein expressed by germ cells in the testis, having multiple functions and representing an important link between selenium, sperm quality and male fertility [21].

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