Trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) is one of the most important metabolites of benzene, a pollutant ubiquitously distributed in ambient air and classified in 1982 as a group I carcinogen. For its sensitivity and specificity, tt-MA excreted in urine is considered a good biological marker of benzene exposure. In this study, seminal tt-MA levels in occupationally nonexposed subjects (n = 32) have been determined. The seminal fluid of normozoospermic subjects contained an average tt-MA concentration (170 +/- 100 ng ml(-1)) significantly lower than that of teratozoospermic (310 +/- 180 ng ml(-1); P <0.01), oligozoospermic (400 +/- 180 ng ml(-1); P <0.001), and oligoasthenozoospermic. (430 +/- 230 ng ml(-1); P <0.01) subjects. A negative correlation existed between tt-MA levels and sperm concentration (r = -0.62; P <0.001), percentage of normal spermatozoa (r = -0.41; P <0.05), and percentage of vital spermatozoa (r = -0.89; P <0.001). Average tt-MA levels detected in seminal plasma were higher in smokers (350 +/- 160 ng ml(-1)) than in nonsmokers (280 +/- 210 ng ml(-1)) These results show that seminal plasma tt-MA content could be an important biological indicator for evaluating the negative effects of benzene on spermatogenesis.
Assessment of trans, trans-muconic acid in human seminal plasma
DUCCI, MICHELE;ROSSI, PAOLO;GAZZANO, ANGELO;MARTELLI, FRANCO;
2001-01-01
Abstract
Trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) is one of the most important metabolites of benzene, a pollutant ubiquitously distributed in ambient air and classified in 1982 as a group I carcinogen. For its sensitivity and specificity, tt-MA excreted in urine is considered a good biological marker of benzene exposure. In this study, seminal tt-MA levels in occupationally nonexposed subjects (n = 32) have been determined. The seminal fluid of normozoospermic subjects contained an average tt-MA concentration (170 +/- 100 ng ml(-1)) significantly lower than that of teratozoospermic (310 +/- 180 ng ml(-1); P <0.01), oligozoospermic (400 +/- 180 ng ml(-1); P <0.001), and oligoasthenozoospermic. (430 +/- 230 ng ml(-1); P <0.01) subjects. A negative correlation existed between tt-MA levels and sperm concentration (r = -0.62; P <0.001), percentage of normal spermatozoa (r = -0.41; P <0.05), and percentage of vital spermatozoa (r = -0.89; P <0.001). Average tt-MA levels detected in seminal plasma were higher in smokers (350 +/- 160 ng ml(-1)) than in nonsmokers (280 +/- 210 ng ml(-1)) These results show that seminal plasma tt-MA content could be an important biological indicator for evaluating the negative effects of benzene on spermatogenesis.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
