Molecular Biomarkers & Diagnosis

Determination of Trace Metals in Human Seminal Plasma Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Multivariate Statistical Analyses for Sperm Parameters

Abstract

Masatoki Katayama, Satoru Kaneko, Kiyoshi Takamatsu, Takahiro Tsukimura and Tadayasu Togawa

We have simultaneously determined the presence of 30 different trace metals in human seminal plasma by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP−MS). To date, high concentrations of metals (e.g. Zn, Cu, Mg and Fe) in seminal plasma have been sporadically reported and only few reports have discussed the relationships between trace metals and human semen profiles. Ninety-four seminal plasma specimens were first classified in three groups (normozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and azoospermia) according to the WHO guideline for sperm concentration. No significant differences were found among the three groups for all the metals examined. The concentration of metals in the specimens were then compared with sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and volume using multivariate regression analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. The most cumulative contribution ratio and grouping were extracted for profile analysis. Zn showed a positive correlation with motility and morphology (r = 0.3142 and 0.6205), whereas trace metals such as Se and Tl showed positive correlations with all sperm properties. Heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, and Cr also showed high positive or negative correlations with sperm properties. In summary, this study is the first to report the simultaneous determination of metals (in addition to the commonly reported Zn), including trace and heavy metals, in human seminal plasma as analyzed by multivariate regression analysis