Volume 11, Issue 4 (6-2013)                   IJRM 2013, 11(4): 267-0 | Back to browse issues page

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Morán-Martínez J, Carranza-Rosales P, Morales-Vallarta M, Heredia-Rojas J A, Bassol-Mayagoitia S, Betancourt-Martínez N D et al . Chronic environmental exposure to lead affects semen quality in a Mexican men population. IJRM 2013; 11 (4) :267-0
URL: http://ijrm.ir/article-1-412-en.html
1- Departamento de Biología Celular y Ultraestructura, Centro de Investigación Biomédica Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Coahuila, México , javmoran@yahoo.com
2- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, México
3- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
4- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Centro de Investigación Biomédica Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Coahuila, México
5- Departamento de Biología Celular y Ultraestructura, Centro de Investigación Biomédica Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Coahuila, México
6- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Genómica y Secuenciación. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, México
Abstract:   (2638 Views)
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 μgdL-1 than in the NEG, 6.42±0.38 μgdL-1 (p<0.01), as well as the PbS concentration, with 3.28±0.35 and 1.76±0.14μgdL-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.
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Type of Study: Original Article |

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