Native specific activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1), phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) does not differ between normo- and hypomotile human sperm samples

Glutathione-dependent selenoenzymes in human spermatozoa are responsible for a generalized protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as some other metabolic and structural regulation during spermiogenesis and sperm cell maturation. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1), phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPx-4 or PHGPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) native specific activities have been studied in human Percoll-purified spermatozoa from healthy fertile subjects and asthenozoospermic patients. The mean values obtained for the three enzymes in normal specimens are 1.52 +/- 0.90 mU/10(6) sperm cells (PHGPx), 4.26 +/- 1.73 mU/10(6) sperm cells (GPx-1) and 1.95 mU/10(6) sperm cells (GR). No…