Correlations between Different Heavy Metals in Diverse Body Fluids: Studies of Human Semen Quality

Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, Jaime Mendiola, Manuela Roca, José J López-Espín, José J Guillén, José M Moreno, Stella Moreno-Grau, María J Martínez-García, Nuria Vergara-Juárez, Belén Elvira-Rendueles, Antonio García-Sánchez, Jorge Ten, Rafael Bernabeu, Alberto M Torres-Cantero, Lidia Mínguez-Alarcón, Jaime Mendiola, Manuela Roca, José J López-Espín, José J Guillén, José M Moreno, Stella Moreno-Grau, María J Martínez-García, Nuria Vergara-Juárez, Belén Elvira-Rendueles, Antonio García-Sánchez, Jorge Ten, Rafael Bernabeu, Alberto M Torres-Cantero

Abstract

It has been hypothesized that exposure to heavy metals may impair male reproduction. To measure the effect produced by low doses of heavy metals on semen parameters, it is necessary to clarify in which body fluids those measurements must be performed. Sixty-one men attending infertility clinics participated in our study. Concentrations of lead, cadmium, and mercury were measured in whole blood, blood plasma, and seminal plasma using spectroanalytical and electrochemical methods. Semen analyses were performed according to World Health Organization criteria. For statistical analysis, Spearman's rank correlations, mean comparison tests, and discriminant analysis were calculated. Significant correlations between the measured concentrations of the three heavy metals in the same biological fluids were observed. However, no similar relationship was seen when comparing the concentrations in different body fluids of the same metal. According to our results and previous publications, seminal plasma might be the best body fluid for assessing impairment of human semen parameters.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Relation between lead concentrations in seminal plasma and blood plasma. (b) Relation between lead concentrations in seminal plasma and whole blood. (c) Relation between lead concentrations in blood plasma and whole blood. (d) Relation between cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma and blood plasma. (e) Relation between cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma and whole blood. (f) Relation between cadmium concentrations in blood plasma and whole blood. (g) Relation between mercury concentrations in blood plasma and whole blood. (h) Relation between mercury concentrations in seminal plasma and whole blood. (i) Relation between mercury concentrations in blood plasma and whole blood.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Relation between lead and cadmium concentrations in whole blood. (b) Relation between lead and mercury concentrations in whole blood. (c) Relation between cadmium and mercury concentrations in whole blood. (d) Relation between lead and cadmium concentrations in blood plasma. (e) Relation between lead and mercury concentrations in blood plasma. (f) Relation between cadmium and mercury concentrations in blood plasma. (g) Relation between lead and cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma. (h) Relation between lead and mercury concentrations in seminal plasma. (i) Relation between cadmium and mercury concentrations seminal plasma.

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