Biophysical and biochemical analysis of semen in infertile Nigerian males.
Biophysical analysis of semen was performed in fifty-eight Nigerian male partners of infertile marriages. Sperm count concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in oligospermics compared to normospermics as expected. However, there was no significant difference in sperm volume or motility percentage between the normospermics and the oligospermics; of course, no sperms were seen in the azoospermics. Biochemical analyses of serum zinc, copper, magnesium, and manganese by atomic absorption spectrophotometry [8] were further correlated in fifty-two patients. There were no statistically significant differences observed in the serum levels of zinc, magnesium, and copper among the normospermics, oligospermics, and azoospermics. The normospermic infertile patients, however, exhibited higher serum manganese when compared with oligospermics and azoospermics (P < 0.001). This finding suggests a potential role for manganese in the evaluation of infertile males.