Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Study the Effect of Oral Zinc Supplementation on Enzymes of Nitric Oxide Pathway
Brief Summary: The ability of spermatozoa to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been respected since the 1940's. Oxidative stress limits the functional competence of mammalian spermatozoa via lipid peroxidation, the induction of oxidative DNA damage and the formation of protein adducts. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical generated from the oxidation of L-arginine to L-citrulline by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent NO synthases. Several studies suggest that the overproduction of this free radical and the subsequent excessive exposure to oxidative conditions have a potential pathogenetic implication, which due to the reduction of sperm motility. The present study was conducted to study the effect of Zn supplementation on the levels of NO synthase and arginase in semen of patients with asthenozoospmia.