Publication: Mechanism of lead induced effects on human spermatozoa after occupational exposure
Files
Date
2007
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objectives: Occupational lead exposure caused several types of male reproductive impairments in different working
populations. In the present study we examined the paint factory workers of active reproductive age and compared
the data with the non-occupationally exposed desk job holders taken as control from Bangalore, India.
Materials and methods: In the above perspective, sperm cell morphology, morphometery and motile activity were
assessed. Routine seminal biochemistry, cell cycle phase analysis of sperm head DNA, estimation of serum
reproductive hormones and metal levels in blood and semen were also taken into account.
Result: Low sperm velocity, ATPase activity, gross and forward progressive motility with high stationary motile
spermatozoa revealed lowering of cellular activity after lead exposure (p<0.001), which was supported by high
seminal plasma fructose level (p<0.001). Lowering of seminal plasma total protein with concomitant rise in free
amino acid level was prevalent as the exposure increased (p<0.001), suggesting disturbance in cellular nutritional
support essential for cellular motility. Prolonged liquefaction time, reduced semen volume and viscosity as well as
altered seminal plasma protein, fructose and cholesterol level among the workers indicated dysfunction of accessory
sex glands viz. prostate and seminal vesicle after occupational lead exposure (p<0.001). Deterioration of sperm
count, structural abnormality of spermatozoa and sperm head DNA hyploidy was also associated with high blood
and semen lead levels in the paint factory workers (p<0.001) without interfering serum FSH, LH and testosterone
level (non-significant at p<0.05).
Conclusion: Therefore, the present study suggested that at the present exposure level lead might cross blood-testis-
barrier and increased its value in semen of the occupationally exposed paint factory workers in Bangalore, India,
thereby producing detrimental effects on semen quality and sperm characteristics.
Key words: Blood/semen lead level, cell cycle, paint factory workers, semen biochemistry, sperm morphology.
Description
Naha N 1, Manna B2
1The Oxford College of Physiotherapy, Bangalore, India, 2National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, IndianCouncil of Medical Research, Kolkata, India