Quality of 4-hourly ejaculates--levels of calcium and magnesium.

A four-hourly ejaculation study was conducted in which eleven normal healthy subjects participated. Five of them discontinued after submitting three samples. One alone was present for submission at the end of 16 h (fifth ejaculate), which was his last submission. Physical exhaustion was the sole reason for all participants for their discontinuation from the study. The result showed a decrease in semen volume and sperm count from first to last ejaculate. The increase in motility was probably due to reduction in exposure time to sperm motility inhibitory factors. In general, total motile spermatozoa as well as actively motile spermatozoa progressively increased from first to last ejaculate at the cost of sluggish spermatozoa. A significant increase in seminal plasma calcium and magnesium was seen as well as a significant increase in magnesium inside the cell from the first to the fourth ejaculate. Considering the quality of semen, which was good in sperm count and excellent in motility, calcium and magnesium may be helpful in cleaning motility inhibitory factors of spermatozoa.

Effect of prolonged storage of seminal plasma on levels of calcium and magnesium.

BACKGROUND: In laboratories, the semen or seminal plasma samples are stored before estimation of different elements without knowing the adverse effect of storing. The present study shows the levels of Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ in the seminal plasma before and after the storage. METHODS: Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was used for estimating calcium and magnesium levels in the seminal plasma. Samples were stored for one year in different containers such as polyethylene, plastic, ordinary glass, and borosil glass. Calcium and magnesium levels were estimated after this period by AAS. The total area in contact with containers was considered in the final calculation. RESULTS: After 1-year storage, the levels of calcium and magnesium had changed. The most suitable container for storage of calcium was ordinary glass (P > 0.05) whereas ordinary glass (P > 0.05), polyethylene (P > 0.05), and borosil glass (P > 0.05) are the most suitable for magnesium. CONCLUSION: In any elemental study, the most suitable containers are recommended for storage of the semen/seminal plasma samples.

Study into the iron content of seminal plasma in normal and infertile subjects.

The iron content in seminal plasma of normal (n19), oligozoospermic (n11), azoospermic (n12), oligoasthenozoospermic (n19), and asthenozoospermic (n17) subjects was estimated by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The concentration of iron in normal seminal plasma varied from 265 to 365 mg%. The source of iron in seminal plasma seems to be the adnexal glands and not spermatozoa, as azoospermic semen also contained it. A statistically highly significant difference was seen when normal was compared with azoospermia and with asthenozoospermia. The necessary average wastage of iron through semen is calculated as 2.52 mg/day. This value is highly variable according to the seminal volume and frequency of ejaculation.

Electron microscopic (energy dispersive X-ray analysis) study of human male reproductive organs and semen.

Recently, technological advancement helped to improve our knowledge on trace elements in human male reproductive organs and its secretion, semen. In this study, employing energy dispersive x-ray analysis facilities on electron microscope, presence of different elements in human male reproductive organs--testis, epididymis, caput, corpus and cauda, prostate gland, seminal vesicle, Cowper's gland and vas deferens-seminal plasma and spermatozoa pellet was studied. Several elements were observed. Gold was one among them that was present in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. It was also present in epididymis caput. Authors consider epididymis caput as the source of gold in semen.

Gold in human semen around and away from a gold deposit area.

The study included evaluation of semen from normal, healthy adults and estimation of gold in seminal plasma from two regions Nilambur valley (Malappuram District, Kerala Province, India; n = 11), where gold deposit is present and Kollam town (Kerala Province, India; n = 13) where gold is not present in soil. All samples showed normal spermiogram. Gold was estimated in seminal plasma by employing inductively coupled plasma emission spectrophotometry. It varied from 0.23-1.15 ppm with mean 0.68 ppm in study area while in control area it was 0.13-0.71 ppm with a mean of 0.41 ppm. Statistical studies (independent 't' test) showed significantly high level (p < 0.05) of gold in seminal plasma from study area. ANOVA test proved that gold in seminal plasma is a significant (p < 0.05) factor for total spermatozoa count and its percentage of motility.

Water purification prescribed in Ayurveda.

Authors present here water purifying methods for drinking purpose by employing few kinds of flowers, a traditional knowledge available in India from the classics of Ayurveda, the oldest system of medical practices. A simple method is designed to conduct a study for finding out the efficacy of the said method.

Human semen study around and away from gold mine area.

Gold was first detected in human semen in 1981. The entry of gold into semen was hypothesized through food items. Earlier reports identified gold in semen as important for good quality of semen. The infertility rate could be low around gold mine area when compared to other places. The aim of the study was to verify this. Towards this, the quality of human semen around a gold mine (Kolar, India) was evaluated and compared to that from a place which was 2000 km away from a gold mine (Jamnagar, India). A total number of 254 semen samples from Kolar and 437 from Jamnagar were evaluated. The fertility rate was higher in Kolar region. The semen samples studied for both places showed that the semen quality was superior in Kolar gold field area.

Level of gold in normal and pathological semen.

The study included the estimation of gold in seminal plasma and spermatozoa of 36 semen samples of normal and different pathological conditions. The method employed for analysis was atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metal was seen in seminal plasma and spermatozoa of all normal samples.

Calcium and magnesium in male reproductive system and in its secretion.Part II* within-subject variability in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa.

This study was undertaken to find out what, if any, within-subject variability exists in semen parameters, and calcium and magnesium levels in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Significant changes (p<0.05) were found in semen volume and in the percentage of sluggish motile spermatozoa. No other significant changes were seen in semen parameters or in calcium or magnesium in spermatozoa and seminal plasma.

The process of spermatogenesis liberates significant heat and the scrotum has a role in body thermoregulation.

The temperature in human testis is 2-3 degrees C less than that of body providing a suitable environment for sperm production. Pampiniform plexus play a major role in this. Authors question the full function of Pampiniform plexus; if it is sufficiently efficient to maintain the optimal temperature, why testes are not retained in abdomen. The present hypothesis states that during the process of spermatogenesis a large amount of heat is liberated as a bye product of energy utilization. Testes are purposefully kept away in the dangling scrotum to exclude the damage otherwise it would have caused to visceral organs from the heat it produced. The heat from testes is carefully liberated by scrotum. The thin skin with no subcutaneous fat, scanty hair distribution and presence of more sweat glands on it permits easy escape of heat. On exposure to cold, the scrotal surface area is minimized by rugosities for heat conservation and cremaster muscles lift testes closer to abdomen to provide heat to body.

Hypothesis: epididymis inhibits sperm motility inside male reproductive tract.

Epididymis (ES) inhibits the total activities of spermatozoa (SA) in male reproductive tract. It keeps SA motionless throughout the length of system by its inhibitory factors (IFs), which are nullified by the secretary products of other glands after formation of semen externally.

Copper in split and daily ejaculates.

The authors studied the copper level in three splits of 21 ejaculates to locate the origin of copper in semen. The copper level was rich in the first split and poor in the second. The results indicated that copper is released from all portions of the genital tract and that the major share is from the prostate gland. Another group of 26 volunteers submitted their semen samples once a day for 10 days for a study of the role of copper in fertility. A gradual increase in sperm motility was observed from the first day. There was no consistency in the level of copper in this study, and it did not correlate with any of the semen parameters studied.

Hypothesis: improving the semen quality.

Author proposes repeated ejaculations as a method for improving the semen quality in terms of total spermatozoa count and the percentage of motile spermatozoa. This must be helpful to many oligozoospermic, oligoasthenozoospermic and asthenozoospermic patients.

Development of copper male contraceptive. Contribution of India.

In this review article the author discusses the possibility of making a male contraceptive with the inclusion of copper. The contributions made by different groups of workers in India towards this, are critically analysed. Aspermatogenic status of copper is recognised. The toxicity of copper on tissue is a great concern for continuation of this programme. Recently a hypothesis for slow delivery system of copper for functioning as aspermatogenic and spermatostatic was mooted. The veracity of the proposal is yet to be seen.

PIP: Indian researchers have contributed much to the understanding of copper's natural presence in the male reproductive system. They learned of copper's presence by using mass emission spectroscopy, direct couple plasma emission spectroscopy, and split ejaculation. They needed to learn at what level a copper male contraceptive should increase copper in semen. In terms of the processing method for atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), simple dilution of human seminal plasma is far more superior than is wet oxidation (p .001). The author and colleagues have conducted such studied in 18-35 year old males living in Ahmedabad and Surat, India. They have used a chemical method and AAS to measure copper levels. They found that the copper level in human seminal plasma had a wide range. The same researchers have also conducted studies to determine copper's role in male fertility. Their findings indicated that copper levels were lower in men with azoospermia (p .05) and higher in men with weak sperm (p .001-.05), but these levels were within the normal range. They suggested that copper immobilizes spermatozoa. Other Indian researchers implanted a copper wire in the vas deferens of rats and Rhesus monkeys. Many sperm below the wire were immobile and, thus, the animals were sterile. In some studies, azoospermia was achieved. The damage to tissues varied from none to proliferation and desquamation of epithelial cells. Other researchers introduced the copper wire outside the epididymis or medially in the scrotum with the results being the same. Copper iontophoresis (3-7m Amp for 3 minutes) in the vas deferens of rats, rabbits, and Rhesus monkeys induced sterility. The toxicity to tissues due to copper concerns all the researchers. The author suggested a slow delivery system to limit copper exposure to minimize copper toxicity. Studies in developing such a delivery system should examine the size of copper particles, period of action, a removable or biodegradable implant, and size and shape of the implant.