fatty acid composition in normozoospermic, asthenozoopermic, asthenoteratozoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic ejaculates

Background: the lipids of the spermatozoa membrane are important for the fluidityand flexibility of spermatozoa. however, spermatozoa’s lipids are the main substratesfor peroxidation, which may provoke severe functional disorder of sperm.objective: the aim of this study was to investigate the fatty acids composition ofspermatozoa in men with asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia andoligoasthenoteratozoospermia compared with normozoospermic males.materials and methods: a cross-sectional study was designed. the patients were 51men with seminal parameters abnormalities undergoing infertility screening. thepatients were grouped into asthenozoospermic (n=15), asthenoteratozoospermic (n=21)and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (n=15). the patients were compared with 21 maleswith normozoospermia. sperm fatty acid analysis was performed using capillary gaschromatography.results: levels of stearic acid and oleic acid were significantly higher inoligoasthenoteratozoospermic subjects compared with these levels in normozoospermicmales. levels of arachidonic acid and dha were significantly lower in the sperms ofoligoasthenoteratozoospermic males than normozoospermic men. sperm motility andmorphology were correlated positively with levels of arachidonic acid and dha while anegative correlation was observed with levels of stearic acid and oleic acid.conclusion: in conclusion, impaired sperm function can originate from the disorder ofsperm lipid metabolism. low levels of dha and arachidonic acid in spermatozoa ofoligoasthenoteratozoospermic subjects may be the result of breakdown of them.