The associations among semen quality, oxidative DNA damage in human spermatozoa and concentrations of cadmium, lead and selenium in seminal plasma

Abstract

To explore the associations among semen quality, oxidative DNA damage in human spermatozoa and concentrations of cadmium, lead and selenium in seminal plasma, 56 non-smoking subjects were asked to collect semen by masturbation into a sterile wide-mouth metal-free plastic container after 3 days of abstinence. The conventional semen parameters were analysed. The concentrations of Cd, Pb and Se in seminal plasma were detected using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. 8-OHdG levels in sperm DNA were measured using HPLC-EC. The results showed that the geometric mean concentrations of Cd, Pb and Se were 0.78, 7.8 and 51.4μg/l, respectively. The geometric mean of 8-OHdG/106 dG was 51.4 (95% CI: 21.5-123.0). A significant inverse correlation exists between Cd and sperm density (r=-0.28, P