Potentiometric Method for Evaluating the Oxidant/Antioxidant Activity of Seminal and Follicular Fluids and Clinical Significance of this Parameter for Human Reproductive Function

Abstract

Potentiometric method based on the sharp change of electrode potential for the ferricyanide/ferrocyanide mediator system after addition of the seminal or follicular fluid sample into the measuring electrochemical cell has been developed to enable the easy assessment of the oxidant/antioxidant status of these kind of biological fluids. Platinum screen printed electrode has been used as an indicator. Essential advantage of the proposed method is simultaneous use of the both forms of the ferricyanide/ferrocyanide mediator system (oxidized and reduced ones) that allows estimating oxidant and antioxidant components of the seminal or follicular fluids samples which were obtained, respectively, from 99 male and 27 female subjects. Oxidant activity of seminal fluids has been observed in pathology conditions of reproductive system of male studied subjects and related with possible male infertility symptoms.