Abstract : Background: Poor semen liquefaction is one of the causes of male infertility which has become a public health challenge in Nigeria. Abnormal sperm motility one of the commonest abnormalities detected in infertile males. The pathogenesis of poor liquefaction and solidification of semen are modulated by Semenogelin and some other secretions from male accessory organs. Objective: To evaluate the concentrations of Semenogelin and zinc in seminal plasma and to correlate the levels with percentage sperm motility. Materials and methods: Four hundred men, mean age 36.4±6.8 years who were evaluated for infertility and 100 men, mean age 40.2±6.6 years of proven fertility were consecutively recruited for the study. Following routine semen analysis, seminal plasma Semenogelin-1 and zinc were determined by ELISA technique and Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry techniques respectively. Data generated were compared between groups and association between Semenogelin, zinc and percentage sperm motility was determined. Results: Seminal plasma Semenogelin level was higher (p<0.001) in infertile males irrespective of the sperm concentration than controls. On the other hand, seminal plasma zinc level was lower (p<0.001) among oligozoospermia and azoospermia than controls. The mean Semenogelin level was significantly higher (p<0.001) among asthenozoospermia than those with normal percent motility while mean seminal plasma zinc level in asthenozoospermia was lower (p<0.001) than those with normal percentage motility. Seminal plasma Semenogelin (R= -0.217; p<0.005) correlated negatively with asthenozoospermia and zinc (R= -0.148;p<0.05) but zinc correlated (R-0.150;p<0.05) positively with asthenozoospermia. Conclusion: Alterations in the levels of Semenogelin and zinc are associated with asthenozoospermia among infertile males.

Keyword : Male infertility, Sperm motility, Semenogelin, zinc.