Background. Semen analysis is the cornerstone in the evaluation of male (in)fertility. However, there are men with normal semen\ntests but with impaired fertilizing ability, as well as fertile men with poor sperm characteristics. Thus, there is rising interest to\nfind novel parameters that will help to predict and define the functional capacity of spermatozoa. Methods.We examined whether\nthere is a correlation between semen parameters (count, progressive motility, and morphology) and protein expression/activity\nof antioxidative defense enzymes in seminal plasma from 10 normospermic subjects. Results. Sperm progressive motility was\nin positive correlation with seminal plasma protein expression of both superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoforms (MnSOD and\nCuZnSOD) and catalase. Also, positive correlation was observed between sperm count and MnSOD protein expression, as well\nas between spermmorphology and protein expression of catalase in seminal plasma. In contrast, protein expression of glutathione\nperoxidase was not in correlation with any sperm parameter, while its activity negatively correlated with sperm morphology and\nmotility. Conclusions.These data suggest that evaluation of protein expression of antioxidative defense enzymes in seminal plasma\nmight be of importance in the evaluation of male fertility status and that could be used as an additional biomarker along with classic\nsemen analysis in assessment of semen quality.
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