DIOXINS AND SPERM REDOX STATUS: IS THERE A CONNECTION WITH FERTILITY?

Background. Male infertility is a global problem that affects 7-8% of the male population of industrialized countries. One of the primary reasons for increasing the frequency of infertility is environmental distress. At the same time, there is no direct evidence of the association of technogenic effects and dysfunction of spermatozoa. Aim. To assess the relationship between the oxidation-reduction status of seminal plasma and the level of ejaculate contamination with polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins/furans in idiopathic infertility in men. Materials and methods. 170 infertile and 46 fertile men were examined. Dioxins and furans were determined using high-performance gas chromatography and high-resolution chromatography mass spectrometry in accordance with the recommendations of the US Environmental Protection Agency. The metabolic status of the seminal plasma was assessed by the redox state of glutathione and nicotinamide nucleotides. The analysis of the results of the study was carried out in accordance with the manual on medical statistics using the methods of mathematical analysis. Results. In infertile men the content of ecopollutants class of dioxins/furans in the ejaculate was higher than fertile donors, more than 2 times. The maximum level of the most toxic conger of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in pathospermia was revealed. The state of the key redox systems of ejaculate in infertility was characterized by an increase in the concentration of oxidized glutathione, a decrease in the level of reduced nicotinamide nucleotides, and, as a consequence, an imbalance of the redox status. Molecular mechanisms of toxic effects of dioxins on spermatogenesis, which can be mediated by modulation the state of redox-sensitive signaling systems, are discussed. Conclusions. It is concluded that there is a direct relationship between the pollution of the environment compounds of organochlorine nature and the pathology of the reproduction function.