Is there a relation between serum methylarginine levels and infertility?

Abstract

Infertility is defined as the absence of pregnancy within the reproductive period despite regular sexual intercourse. Methylarginines are formed as a result of methylation of arginine residues in proteins and formed in three forms as asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), symmetrical dimethyl arginine (SDMA) and monomethylarginine (L-NMMA). So, here, we aimed to evaluate arginine and their derivatives levels in fertile and infertile individuals. Present study were consist of 30 oligozoospermia patients (proven by spermiogram analysis) and 30 healthy individuals with normozoospermia group who were applied to the urology department. With blood samples taken from individuals, serum methylarginine and its derivatives levels were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Clinic data and demographic characteristics of individuals were also recorded at the same time. The serum ADMA level (0.38±0.07) of the oligozoospermia group was found to be significantly higher than the normozoospermia group (0.35±0.05) (p=0.046). A positive correlation were observed between ADMA and SDMA (r=0.686, p=0.000), HArg and SDMA (r=0.611, p=0.001), citrulline and L-NMMA (r=0.595, p=0.001) in patients with oligosospermia. The increase in SDMA, arginine and HArg levels and a decrease in L-NMMA and citrulline levels were not significant as statistically. Also, the ADMA level was found to be high in individuals with low sperm concentration. Consequently, serum ADMA levels of individuals with oligozoospermia were statistically significantly higher than those with normozoospermia. As proposal, determination of ADMA levels may be a potential biomarker parameter in terms of early diagnosis of fertility and infertility.