Role of Zinc in Reproductive Biology - An Overview

Trace amount of certain metals including zinc are essential for the normal growth, development, reproduction and various other physiological functions in the body. However, their appropriate amount is needed for maintaining steady state mechanism of various functions in the body. Some of the heavy metals even at a very low level are having toxic potential, which might be dependent upon the dose, time and duration of exposure as well as factors associated with host. The available data on zinc level in serum and seminal plasma suggests that zinc has a significant role in spermatogenesis and maintaining the total number of sperms as well as sperm motility and DNA integrity etc. However, significantly higher level (several times of normal level) of zinc may have adverse effects on sperm quality. Zinc is also essential for female reproductive system including embryogenesis and development. Thus deficiency or excess of zinc level might have significant impact on sperm and egg physiology. Zinc has also been involved in antagonizing the effect of various toxicants. Further, data also point the role of zinc supplementation may be useful as one of the adjuvant components for the subjects having sub normal reproductive function with lower seminal zinc level. However, more research is needed on this aspect, as some of the conflicting data also existed.