Associations between biochemical components of human semen with seminal conditions

Figures & data

Table 1. Correlations (Spearman’s rho coefficient) between semen biochemical components and sperm parameters.

Variable	Sperm concentration	Sperm morphology %	Sperm motility %	Sperm vitality %
ALB (g/dL)	0.009	0.023	−0.536*	−0.339*
ALP (U/L)	0.284	0.099	0.177	0.164
CK (U/L)	−0.323*	−0.032	−0.199	−0.939*
E (pmol/L)	−0.241	0.067	0.142	0.131
FERR (ng/mL)	0.027	−0.316*	−0.251	−0.159
GGT (U/L)	0.076	−0.149	−0.439*	−0.077
LDH (U/L)	0.337*	0.023	−0.216	−0.202
TP (g/dL)	−0.094	−0.174	−0.081	−0.171
B12 (pmol/L)	−0.139	0.100	0.009	−0.040
FOL (ng/mL)	−0.360*	0.005	−0.145	−0.225

Sperm concentration: number of sperm/ml ×10⁶; sperm morphology %: percentage of sperm with normal morphology; sperm motility %: percentage of sperm with rapid + slow progressive motility; sperm vitality %: percentage of unstained sperm after Eosin Y treatment; ALB: albumin; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; CK: creatine kinase; E: Estradiol; FERR: ferritin; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; TP: total protein; B12: vitamin B12; FOL: folic acid. Significant correlations are in bold; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Figure 1. Scatter plots displaying the relationship between sperm motility and ALB and between sperm vitality and CK.

Table 2. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQR: 75°–25° centile) of semen biochemical values in patients with sperm concentration, morphology motility and vitality ≤5°perc vs those obtained in patients with sperm concentration, morphology, motility and vitality >5°perc respectively.

	Sperm concentration		Sperm morphology%		Sperm motility%		Sperm vitality%
Variable	≤5°perc (32/92)	>5°perc (60/92)	≤5°perc (36/92)	>5°perc 56/92)	≤5°perc (44/92)	>5°perc (48/92)	≤5°perc (34/92)	>5°perc (58/92)
ALB (g/dL)	0.51 (0.24)	0.56 (0.24)	0.66 (0.25)	0.49 (0.18)	0.66 (0.25)***	0.49 (0.18)	0.6 (0.2)**	0.5 (0.3)
ALP (U/L)	116 (59)	175.5 (290)	156 (126)	171.5 (301)	156 (126)	171.5 (301)	154 (301)	167 (200)
CK (U/L)	1178 (1386)	642.5 (715)	753.5 (1210)	731.5 (1031)	753.5 (1210)	731.5 (1031)	1216 (1296)***	318 (365)
E (pmol/L)	17 (4.51)	14.2 (9)	15 (4.71)	14.61 (9)	15 (4.71)	14.61 (9)	15 (6.11)	14.61 (9.98)
FERR (ng/mL)	248.3 (196.4)	221 (156.3)	264.2 (167.4)	210.3 (147.1)	264.2 (167.4)	210.3 (147.1)	265.6 (178.8)	205.8 (150.7)
GGT (U/L)	6205 (1652)	6973 (2883)	6715 (3146)	6567 (2961)	6715 (3146)***	6567 (2961)	6720 (2630)	6437 (3016)
LDH (U/L)	1496 (697)	1563 (684)	1536 (592)	1558 (684)	1536 (592)	1558 (684)	1633 (638)	1473 (611)
TP (g/dL)	4 (1.32)	3.73 (1.76)	4.4 (1.25)	3.64 (1.19)	4.4 (1.25)*	3.64 (1.19)	4.06 (1.44)	3.73 (1.47)
B12 (pmol/L)	748 (313.6)	565.1 (374.8)	661.4 (359.7)	550.1 (413)	661.4 (359.7)	550.1 (413)	618 (311.5)	526 (698)
FOL (ng/mL)	12.75 (3.31)	9.24 (8.26)	12.49 (5.08)	10 (8.26)	12.49 (5.08)	10 (8.26)	12.37 (6.68)	9.24 (8.2)

Sperm concentration: number of sperm/ml x10⁶; sperm morphology %: percentage of sperm with normal morphology; sperm motility %: percentage of sperm with rapid + slow progressive motility; sperm vitality %: percentage of unstained sperm after Eosin Y treatment; ALB: albumin; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; CK: creatine kinase; E: Estradiol; FERR: ferritin; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; TP: total protein; B12: vitamin B12; FOL: folic acid. Significant comparisons are in bold; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Table 3. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQR: 75°–25° centile) of semen biochemical values in patients with presence/absence of leukocytospermia, germ cells, hyperviscosity.

	Leukocytospermia		Germ cells		Hyperviscosity
Variable	>1mil/ml (32/92)	<1mil/ml (60/92)	Presence (36/92)	Absence (56/92)	Presence (36/92)	Absence (56/92)
ALB (g/dL)	0.52 (0.25)	0.6 (0.2)	0.60 (0.23)	0.51 (0.24)	0.48 (0.37)	0.56 (0.21)
ALP (U/L)	167 (246)	158.5 (325.5)	271 (299)	156 (259)	139 (160)**	238 (376)
CK (U/L)	628.5 (934)	785 (1165)	731.5 (708)	628.5 (1390.5)	588 (594)	784 (1855)
E (pmol/L)	14.81 (7.89)	14 (7.36)	14 (4.71)	16.8 (10.1)	17.14 (9.58)	13.7 (7.61)
FERR (ng/mL)	221 (198.8)	245.7 (114.1)	316.4 (137.3)**	203.4 (104.7)	188.4 (211.5)	260.4 (129.1)
GGT (U/L)	6647 (3285)	6574 (2030)	6841 (3347)	6567 (2640)	6034 (3182)	6974 (2630)
LDH (U/L)	1478 (800)	1535 (482.5)	1609 (421)	1412 (810)	1453 (756)	1578 (782)
TP (g/dL)	3.64 (1.18)	4.4 (1.28)	4.24 (1.35)	3.61 (1.18)	3.72 (1.76)	3.99 (1.27)
B12 (pmol/L)	569 (329.6)	690.7 (340.5)	649.7 (385.7)	588.6 (354.3)	532 (370.6)	659 (349.2)
FOL (ng/mL)	11.9 (8.51)	11 (4.76)	11.9 (5.04)	10 (8.76)	8.53 (6.97)***	12.91 (9.12)

Leukocytospermia: presence of leukocytes (>1 × 10⁶ leukocytes/ml) in the ejaculate; germ cells: presence of germ cells in ejaculate; hyperviscosity: presence of hyperviscosity in ejaculate ALB: albumin; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; CK: creatine kinase; E: Estradiol; FERR: ferritin; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; TP: total protein; B12: vitamin B12; FOL: folic acid. Significant comparisons are in bold; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Table 4. Comparison of biochemical values and semen parameters in smokers and non smokers. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQR: 75°–25° centile) are reported.

	Smokers (32)	Non smokers (30)
pH	7.8 (0.3)	7.8 (0)
Sperm concentration	42.5 (108.5)*	79.25 (120)
Sperm morphology %	6 (7)***	22 (8)
Sperm motility %	36 (30)*	43.5 (24)
Sperm vitality %	65.5 (20)	64.5 (21)
ALB (g/dL)	0.50 (0.25)	0.56 (0.21)
ALP (U/L)	162.5 (297)	161 (317)
CK (U/L)	628.5 (647)	731.5 (1321)
E (pmol/L)	13.6 (8.09)***	18.07 (9)
FERR (ng/mL)	175.4 (120.3)	263 (152.5)
GGT (U/L)	6493 (2883)	6715 (2734)
LDH (U/L)	1631 (812)	1464 (593)
TP (g/dL)	3.66 (1.42)	4.02 (1.64)
B12 (pmol/L)	649.7 (375.2)	690.8 (360.8)
FOL (ng/mL)	6.94 (3.86) ***	12.6 (5.9)

Smokers (≥15 cigarettes day); non smokers (never smoked); pH: pH of the sample; sperm concentration: number of sperm/ml ×10⁶; sperm morphology %: percentage of sperm with normal morphology; sperm motility %: percentage of sperm with rapid + slow progressive motility; sperm vitality %: percentage of unstained sperm after Eosin Y treatment; ALB: albumin; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; CK: creatine kinase; E: Estradiol; FERR: ferritin; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; TP: total protein; B12: vitamin B12; FOL: folic acid. Significant comparisons are in bold; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

Table 5. Comparisons between patient’s characteristics, biochemical markers, and semen parameters of infertile patients and unknown reproductive potential men. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQR: 75°–25° centile) are reported. The number of individuals is reported in characteristics as smokers, hyperviscosity, leukocytospermia, presence of germ cells.

	Infertile (N = 50)	Unknown reproductive potential (N = 42)
Patient’s characteristics
Age (years)	37 (4)	35 (7)
Smokers	19	13
Seminal parameters
pH	7.8 (0.2)	7.8 (0.2)
Sperm concentration	16 (52.9)***	93.7 (175.3)
Sperm morphology %	6 (2.5)***	18 (9)
Sperm motility %	31 (17.5)***	51 (18)
Sperm vitality %	60 (17.5)	68 (20)
Hyperviscosity	16	20
Leukocytospermia	22*	10
Germ cells	24*	12
Biochemical markers
ALB (g/dL)	0.6 (0.19)*	0.49 (0.16)*
ALP (U/L)	155 (305.75)	238 (286)
CK (U/L)	853 (1210)	669 (805)
E (pmol/L)	14.77 (6.68)	13.57 (7.89)
FERR (ng/mL)	260.4 (167.4)*	188.4 (147.1)
GGT (U/L)	6710 (2907)	6575 (2379)
LDH (U/L)	1493 (581)	1482 (691)
TP (g/dL)	4.04 (1.26)	3.61 (1.55)
B12 (pmol/L)	560.2 (293.7)	525.05 (373.9)
FOL (ng/mL)	9.62 (7.49)*	12.53 (5.22)

Age: patient’s age; smokers: number of smoker patient (>15 cigarettes day), pH: seminal pH; sperm concentration: number of sperm/ml x10⁶; sperm morphology %: percentage of sperm with normal morphology; sperm motility %: percentage of sperm with rapid + slow progressive motility; sperm vitality %: percentage of unstained sperm after Eosin Y treatment; ALB: albumin; Hyperviscosity: number of patients with increase of semen viscosity; Leukocytospermia: number of patients with a presence of seminal leukocytes >10⁶/ml; Germ cells: number of patients with a presence of seminal germ cells; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; CK: creatine kinase; E: Estradiol; FERR: ferritin; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; TP: total protein; B12: vitamin B12; FOL: folic acid. Significant differences are showed in bold. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.