Author/Authors :
Mor?n-Mart?nez، Javier نويسنده Departamento de Biolog?a Celular y Ultraestructura, Centro de Investigaci?n Biomédica Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Aut?noma de Coahuila, Coahuila , , Carranza-Rosales، Pilar نويسنده Departamento de Biolog?a Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigaci?n Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, México , , Morales-Vallarta، Mario نويسنده Facultad de Ciencias Biol?gicas, Universidad Aut?noma de Nuevo Le?n. , , Heredia-Rojas، José A نويسنده Facultad de Ciencias Biol?gicas, Universidad Aut?noma de Nuevo Le?n , , Bassol-Mayagoitia، Susana نويسنده Departamento de Biolog?a de la Reproducci?n, Centro de Investigaci?n Biomédica Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Aut?noma de Coahuila, Coahuila, Méxic , , Betancourt-Mart?nez، Nadia Denys نويسنده Departamento de Biolog?a Celular y Ultraestructura, Centro de Investigaci?n Biomédica Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Aut?noma de Coahuila, Coahuila , , Cerda-Flores5، Ricardo M. نويسنده Unidad de Biolog?a Molecular, Gen?mica y Secuenciaci?n. Centro de Investigaci?n y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Aut?noma de Nuevo Le ,
Abstract :
Background: Male infertility is affected by several factors. Lead is one of the heavy metals more bioavailable than usually modifies the sperm quality in humans. Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the role of lead in semen quality in environmentally exposed men. Materials and Methods: Semen and blood samples were obtained from two groups: the exposed group (EG=20) and the non-exposed group (NEG=27). Two semen aliquots were used, one to evaluate spermatic quality and the other for lead determination. Blood (PbB) and semen lead (PbS) determination was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results: The PbB concentration was significantly greater in the EG, 10.10±0.97 ?gdL-1 than in the NEG, 6.42±0.38 ?gdL-1 (p < 0.01), as well as the PbS concentration, with 3.28±0.35 and 1.76±0.14?gdL-1 in the EG and NEG respectively (p=0.043). A significant correlation between PbS and PbB concentration in the EG was found (r=0.573, p=0.038). Overall, the spermatic quality was lower in the EG than in the NEG. Specifically, there were significant differences in the spermatic concentration [EG=43.98±6.26 and NEG=68.78±8.51X106 cellmL-1 (p < 0.01)], motility [EG=49±7 and NEG=67±4% (p=0.029)], viability [EG=36.32±3.59 and NEG=72.12±1.91% (p < 0.01)] and abnormal morphology [EG=67±18 and NEG=32±12% (p < 0.01)]. In the immature germ cells (IGC) concentration differences were found only for A cells (EG=8.1±1.1x100 and NEG=3.2±1.9X100 spermatozoa) (p < 0.01) and for Sab cells (EG=3.4±2.2x100 and NEG=1.1±1.0X100 spermatozoa) (p=0.041). Conclusion: These results suggest that chronic environmental exposure to low levels of lead adversely affect the spermatic quality
