摘要
Aim: To evaluate the role of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as a potential environmental hazard in the deteriora-tion of male fertility. Methods: Fifty-three males were studied. After a thorough case history evaluation and rele-vant clinical and laboratory investigations, PCBs were estimated in the seminal plasma of 21 infertile men with 'Unex-plained Male Factor' and 32 fertile controls. Peak retention times of the eluants were compared with those of the com-mercially available standard PCB Mix, and the results confirmed spectrophotometrically. Seminal PCB concentrafonswere compared between i) fertile and infertile men and ii) men from different areas and diets. The relationship betweenPCB concentrations and measures of sperm quality such as the total motile sperm count, was assessed. Results:PCBs were detected in seminal plasma of infertile men but absent from controls. Sperm quantity and quality were sig-nificantly lower in infertile men compared to controls. The highest average PCB concentrations were found in fish-eat-ing urban dwellers, and followed in succession by fish-eating rural dwellers, non fish-eating urban dwellers and nonfish-eating mral dwellers. The total motile sperm counts were inversely proportional to the PCB concentrations and weresignificantly lower than those of the respective controls. Conclusion: PCBs may be instrumental in the deteriorationof sperm quantity and quality, a contaminated fish diet being the main source of exposure.(Asian J Androl 2000 Dec; 2: 263-269 )
Aim: To evaluate the role of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as a potential environmental hazard in the deteriora-tion of male fertility. Methods: Fifty-three males were studied. After a thorough case history evaluation and rele-vant clinical and laboratory investigations, PCBs were estimated in the seminal plasma of 21 infertile men with 'Unex-plained Male Factor' and 32 fertile controls. Peak retention times of the eluants were compared with those of the com-mercially available standard PCB Mix, and the results confirmed spectrophotometrically. Seminal PCB concentrafonswere compared between i) fertile and infertile men and ii) men from different areas and diets. The relationship betweenPCB concentrations and measures of sperm quality such as the total motile sperm count, was assessed. Results:PCBs were detected in seminal plasma of infertile men but absent from controls. Sperm quantity and quality were sig-nificantly lower in infertile men compared to controls. The highest average PCB concentrations were found in fish-eat-ing urban dwellers, and followed in succession by fish-eating rural dwellers, non fish-eating urban dwellers and nonfish-eating mral dwellers. The total motile sperm counts were inversely proportional to the PCB concentrations and weresignificantly lower than those of the respective controls. Conclusion: PCBs may be instrumental in the deteriorationof sperm quantity and quality, a contaminated fish diet being the main source of exposure.(Asian J Androl 2000 Dec; 2: 263-269 )
