Abstract
ABSRACT: BACKGROUND: Carnitine is highly concentrated in the epididymis and Spermatozoa, where it may serve as an intramitochondrial vehicle for theAcyl group, a substrate of energy production. This study is aimed to determine any correlation between male infertility and semen quality with Concentration of L- carnitine in human seminal plasma. OBJECTIVE: This case-control study performed at the Institute of Embryo Research and Infertility, University of Al-Naharin, Baghdad. Semen samples of 40 infertile men (azoospermia, n=12, oligoasthenozoospermia, n=16, teratozoospermia, n=12) and 12 fertile men controls were collected. METHODS: The level of total L- carnitine in seminal plasma was determined by high performance liquid chromatography and the results correlated with sperm parameters as sperm count, motility and morphology. RESULTS: The level of L-carnitine was significantly reduced in infertile male groups; azoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia in comparison with that of fertile male controls (P< 0.045, P< 0.023 and P< 0.04; respectively). There was a borderline significant positive correlation between the seminal L-carnitine and the sperm count in fertile group(r=0.63, P< 0.51). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated the significance of determination of seminal plasma L-carnitine in evaluation of infertility in men and the importance of recognition of those infertile male who are benefit from administration of carnitine supplement.
Recommended Citation
Anbar, Zainab N.H.
(2011)
"Status of Total L-Carnitine Level in the Seminal Plasma of Iraqi Infertile and Fertile Men: Correlation Study with Semen Quality,"
Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal: Vol. 10:
Iss.
1, Article 13.
Available at:
https://ipmj.researchcommons.org/journal/vol10/iss1/13