Relationship between some markers of oxidative stress and semen abnormalities among men attending infertility clinics in Eksuth, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

Osmotic stress (OS) has emerged as one of the leading causes of rapid decline of semen quality in recent times leading to male infertility. OS is the imbalance between the onslaught of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in vivo as a byproduct of various metabolic processes and the antioxidant defense system. This study was carried out at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti to evaluate the relationship between antioxidants and semen quality. Following routine analysis, semen were categorized into Normospermic, asthenospermic, oligospermic and azospermic based on WHO criteria. Twenty seminal plasma samples from each group were analyzed for the concentrations of some OS markers which are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Catalase, Glutathione, Glutathione Peroxidase, Glutathione Transferase, Total Thiol, Lipid Peroxidation and Total Antioxidant Capacity using standard photometric procedures while Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 4 by comparing the concentrations of the parameters in asthenospermic, oligospermic and azospermic groups with the Normospermia. The results showed that the values of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Catalase, glutathione transferase, glutathione and total antioxidants capacity were significantly lower in all the abnormal groups compared with the Normospermic subjects. It was concluded that decreased antioxidant status could be a contributory factor in male infertility. Routine seminal antioxidant determinations was suggested as part of diagnostic tools needed for the differential diagnosis of male infertility. Additionally, antioxidant supplementation should be included in the treatment of infertile males.