Values of sperm thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance in fertile men.

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to establish for the first time reference levels of sperm malondialdehyde, a stable lipid peroxidation product, in a cohort of fertile men.

METHODS

Sperm malondialdehyde, a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, was assayed using the 2-thiobarbituric acid method.

RESULTS

Sperm malondialdehyde levels, expressed in nM/10(8) spermatozoa, were normally distributed in our cohort of fertile men and averaged 0.0287 +/- 0.0162 (mean +/- S.D.).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the impact of lipid peroxidation on spermatozoa and thereby on male fertility, the assay of sperm membrane thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance is clearly of interest. Malondialdehyde levels found in our study form a basis for normal values of sperm thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance observed in the semen of fertile men.