Mutual relationships between selected chemical elements (Na, K, Fe, Cu, Mg, and Zn), basic motility characteristics (motility and progressive motility), and markers of the oxidative balance (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, albumin, and malondialdehyde) were investigated in bovine seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Computer assisted sperm analysis was used to assess the motility parameters; mineral concentrations were determined by the voltammetric method and flame absorption spectrophotometry; antioxidants and malondialdehyde were evaluated by UV/VIS spectrophotometry. Concentrations of chemical elements in both seminal fractions were in the following descending order: Na > K > Zn > Mg > Fe > Cu. Higher amounts of all minerals and nonenzymatic antioxidants were detected in the seminal plasma ( ; ), while higher MDA concentration and activity of enzymatic antioxidants were recorded in the cell lysates ( ; ). Na, Fe, Cu, Mg, and Zn were positively correlated with the motility and antioxidant parameters ( ; ; ). Inversely, K exhibited the positive associations with malondialdehyde ( ). This study demonstrates that most chemical elements are integral components of bovine semen and are needed for the protection against oxidative stress development. 1. Introduction Various anthropogenic activities and natural environmental factors as well as other sources are of crucial importance for the reproductive potential of semen, both in animals and humans [1]. Chemical elements represent a vital ecophysiological component for the preservation and fertilization capacity of spermatozoa. Some of them are essential for proper sperm cell functions (e.g., sodium, Na; potassium, K; calcium, Ca; magnesium, Mg); others are required in relatively narrow limits (e.g., zinc, Zn; copper, Cu; manganese, Mn; cobalt, Co; selenium, Se; iron, Fe) [2, 3]. Mammalian seminal plasma and spermatozoa are known to contain a broad variety of macro- and microelements [1]. The influence of major biologically active inorganic components on spermatozoa viability parameters has been studied in animals as well as in humans [2–7]. Positive effects on the sperm cell motility, morphology, and concentration were reported particularly for Zn, Mg, Se, and Ca [4, 5, 7]. Fe, Cu, and their compounds are essential metal cofactors for a variety of bioactive molecules; however, disturbances in their regulative absorption mechanism with subsequent aberrant concentrations may have a negative impact on the sperm viability and morphology [2, 3, 8]. The role of chemical elements in natural antioxidant
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