Cobalt and Copper Levels in the Seminal Plasma of Infertile Men Living in Port Harcourt Metropolis

摘要

The seminal plasma levels of cobalt and copper were assessed in men living in Port Harcourt metropolis using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. These subjects were divided into two groups based on accepted criteria for fertility in males. The subjects in group 1 (fertile men) had 67.30 10.52% as the percentage motility; 67.70 18.20 x106 Spermcells/L as cell count, 10.04 2.27g/Land 4.14 2.60g/L as seminal plasma cobalt and copper levels respectively. The subjects in group 2 (infertile men) had 30.60 16.60% as percentage motility; 16.80 4.5 x 106 Spermcells/L as cell count, 11.82 2.83g/l and 7.05 3.27g/L as seminal plasma cobalt and copper levels respectively. The percentage motility and sperm cell count were significantly higher in the fertile group than the infertile group (P < 0.05). The seminal plasma level of copper was significantly higher in the infertile men than in the fertile men (P < 0.05), while cobalt levels in both groups did not show any significant difference, although there was an increase observed in the non-fertile group. The result of this study shows that men presenting with infertility have higher copper levels in their seminal plasma, a finding that could be useful in the management of male infertility.