Detection of Lactoferrin and Iron in Seminal Plasma and Their Possible Relation to Semen Parameters and Infertility in Varicocele: A Cross-sectional Study.

Ali Mohamed Mahran, Marilyn Sameh Abd-Almalak, Fatma Mohammed Helbawi, Marwa Mohammad Mekkawy
Author Information
  1. Ali Mohamed Mahran: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
  2. Marilyn Sameh Abd-Almalak: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
  3. Fatma Mohammed Helbawi: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
  4. Marwa Mohammad Mekkawy: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Male infertility emerges as an important cause during the evaluation of infertile couples. Varicocele is a well-known cause of male infertility. The role of seminal lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein, in male fertility is unclear and needs further investigation. Recently, it has been linked to some sperm abnormalities and subfertility.
Aim: This study aims to detect seminal lactoferrin levels in infertile men with varicocele and their relation to semen parameters and fertility status. We investigated a possible link between seminal lactoferrin and iron.
Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted through the outpatient clinic.
Materials and Methods: Seventy-five individuals were included in 3 groups (33 infertile men with varicocele, 25 infertile men without varicocele and 17 fertile participants without varicocele). Conventional semen analysis was conducted, and seminal plasma was obtained in all groups to detect lactoferrin and iron levels.
Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 24.
Results: In infertile men with varicocele, seminal lactoferrin (155.92 �� 8.4 ng/ml, = 0.296) and iron levels (260.71 �� 38.3 ��g/dl, = 0.409) were not significantly different from other groups. There was a positive correlation between seminal lactoferrin, iron levels and sperm concentrations and counts. Seminal iron and lactoferrin were significant independent predictors of sperm concentration. A negative correlation was reported between seminal lactoferrin levels and age. Lactoferrin in seminal plasma was not correlated with seminal iron.
Conclusion: Infertile men with varicocele have seminal lactoferrin levels comparable to other infertile men and possibly fertile individuals. Iron concentrations are not linked to lactoferrin levels in seminal plasma.

Keywords

References

  1. Balkan Med J. 2017 Aug 4;34(4):343-348 [PMID: 28443587]
  2. Reprod Biomed Online. 2011 Feb;22(2):155-61 [PMID: 21195028]
  3. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2019;20(2):139-144 [PMID: 29756573]
  4. Fertil Steril. 2013 Apr;99(5):1324-1331.e1 [PMID: 23290741]
  5. Nutrients. 2021 Jul 22;13(8): [PMID: 34444652]
  6. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Feb 02;11:1091438 [PMID: 36819092]
  7. Int J Androl. 1989 Dec;12(6):430-8 [PMID: 2696730]
  8. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2006 Sep;112(3):193-203 [PMID: 17057258]
  9. World J Mens Health. 2022 Oct;40(4):636-652 [PMID: 35118839]
  10. J Androl. 1997 May-Jun;18(3):302-4 [PMID: 9203059]
  11. Environ Pollut. 2020 Sep;264:113975 [PMID: 32559873]
  12. J Vet Med Sci. 2003 Jun;65(6):679-84 [PMID: 12867726]
  13. Biol Reprod. 1990 Oct;43(4):712-7 [PMID: 2289020]
  14. Rom J Intern Med. 2018 Mar 1;56(1):15-20 [PMID: 28865234]
  15. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Jan 09;12(1): [PMID: 36671014]
  16. J Cell Physiol. 2011 Nov;226(11):3022-31 [PMID: 21935933]
  17. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020 Oct;253:170-179 [PMID: 32871440]
  18. Andrologia. 2021 Feb;53(1):e13576 [PMID: 32271477]
  19. Immunobiology. 2020 Sep;225(5):151999 [PMID: 32962819]
  20. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 30;21(9): [PMID: 32365753]
  21. Transl Androl Urol. 2018 Jul;7(Suppl 3):S303-S309 [PMID: 30159236]
  22. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2015 Jan;32(1):3-16 [PMID: 25245929]
  23. Int Braz J Urol. 2021 Mar-Apr;47(2):284-286 [PMID: 33284533]
  24. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011 Oct;143(1):167-77 [PMID: 20924714]
  25. Reprod Domest Anim. 2018 Jun;53(3):617-623 [PMID: 29431233]
  26. Reprod Biomed Online. 2011 May;22(5):421-7 [PMID: 21388887]
  27. Chemosphere. 2022 May;295:133805 [PMID: 35134404]
  28. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2015 Apr 26;13:37 [PMID: 25928197]
  29. Andrologia. 2015 Aug;47(6):655-61 [PMID: 25081128]
  30. Behav Res Methods. 2007 May;39(2):175-91 [PMID: 17695343]
  31. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2000 Sep;76(3):207-15 [PMID: 11049219]
  32. J Exp Med. 1989 Aug 1;170(2):415-29 [PMID: 2754391]
  33. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2015 Sep;18(3):225-9 [PMID: 26090928]
  34. J Vet Med Sci. 2003 Nov;65(11):1273-4 [PMID: 14665762]

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0seminallactoferrinlevelsvaricoceleironinfertilemenspermsemengroupsanalysisplasmainfertilitycausemalefertilitylinkedstudydetectconductedindividuals3withoutfertile��=0correlationconcentrationsSeminalLactoferrinIronInfertilityBackground:MaleemergesimportantevaluationcouplesVaricocelewell-knownroleiron-bindingglycoproteinunclearneedsinvestigationRecentlyabnormalitiessubfertilityAim:aimsrelationparametersstatusinvestigatedpossiblelinkSettingsDesign:cross-sectionaloutpatientclinicMaterialsMethods:Seventy-fiveincluded332517participantsConventionalobtainedStatisticalAnalysisUsed:StatisticalperformedSPSSversion24Results:1559284ng/ml2962607138��g/dl409significantlydifferentpositivecountssignificantindependentpredictorsconcentrationnegativereportedagecorrelatedConclusion:InfertilecomparablepossiblyDetectionPlasmaPossibleRelationSemenParametersVaricocele:Cross-sectionalStudy

Similar Articles

Cited By

No available data.