The intracellular concentration of homocysteine and related thiols is negatively correlated to sperm quality after highly effective method of sperm lysis

The aims of this study were to determine concentrations of total homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine and glutathione in spermatozoa, seminal fluid and blood plasma and to analyse their relationships with sperm parameters. For this reason, a new highly effective method of spermatozoa lysis was developed, using methanol, freezing and subsequent thawing in ultrasonic bath. An HPLC-FD assay was conducted on thiols concentrations in lysed spermatozoa, seminal fluid and blood plasma. Concentrations of thiols in spermatozoa were significantly lower in men with normozoospermia than in samples with pathological semen parameters. Statistical analysis found significant correlations between thiol concentrations in spermatozoa and semen parameters, while the same analysis with thiol concentrations in seminal fluid was substantially less powerful. Only cysteinylglycine concentrations in seminal fluid significantly correlated with pathological semen parameters. No significant differences or correlations were found with blood plasma concentrations.