SEMEN QUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINAL FUNCTION WITH REGARD TO BLOOD LEAD LEVEL IN INFERTILE PAINTERS

Na., Mansour; H., Hosni; MM., Shatta; ShS., Azab

doi:10.21608/ejom.2010.687

SEMEN QUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINAL FUNCTION WITH REGARD TO BLOOD LEAD LEVEL IN INFERTILE PAINTERS

Document Type : Study paper

Authors

¹ Dept. Of Occupational &Environmental Medicine

² Dept. Of Andrology

³ Dept. Of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University

⁴ Dept. Of Urosurgery, 6th October University

10.21608/ejom.2010.687

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of lead on semen quality and reproductive endocrinal function among infertile painters. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data collected from 27 infertile painter recruited through infertility clinic and Andrology inpatient department. All participants were subjected to semen analysis, measuring of blood lead level ( BPb ) and serum level of endocrinal parameters including follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH), testosterone(T) and prolactin (pl). Results:-significant decline in the spermatic count and motility in those with longer duration of exposure(>15y) without significant duration influence on BPb and serum level of FSH, LH, PT and T. In addition, significant negative correlation of BPb and spermatic count and motility was found, while all endocrinal parameters showed non-significant correlation. Further analysis of the results revealed statistically
significant decline in spermatic motility and increase in testosterone level among the group of BPb > 20 μg/dl beside the observed reduction in the count, which did not reach the significant level. While other endocrinal parameters showed non statistically significant differences. In conclusion, infertile painters were at risk of Lead related influence on semen quality specially spermatic motility and increased testosterone level without significant affection of other reproductive endocrinal parameters.

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