Zinc levels in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men

Zinc levels were measured in seminal plasma from 78 men classified on the basis of spermogram analyses into five groups: normo-, oligo-, astheno-, oligoastheno- and azoospermia. Higher zinc levels were found in seminal plasma from the group of asthenozoospermia men in comparison to normo-, oligoastheno- (p less than 0.001), oligo- and azoospermia men (p less than 0.01), while no significant differences appeared when other group pairs were compared. Seminal plasma zinc levels were positively correlated with sperm density (r = 0.6358, p less than 0.01) in asthenozoospermia men, whereas a significant negative correlation was seen in all groups between percentage forms showing normal progressive motility and zinc concentration in seminal plasma. Although zinc is required in seminal plasma for normal spermatozoon functionality, excessively high levels of this ion may be related with defective motility in asthenozoospermia samples.     

Increased levels of interferon-gamma in seminal plasma of infertile men

Summary. The role of the cell-mediated immunity in male infertility is still far from clear. Interferon-gamma (INF-γ), a secretory product of activated T cells and natural killer cells, has been hypothesized to have a toxic effect on sperm function. The presence of INF-γ was investigated in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile subjects, using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in order to study its role in male infertility. Forty-one subjects were studied; 20 had proven fertility and normal semen quality (fertile group) and 21 showed male infertility for at least 2 years and poor semen quality (infertile group). INF-γ was present in significantly higher levels in the seminal plasma of infertile subjects (6.36±0.72 fmol ml⁻¹) compared to fertile subjects (3.68±0.30 fmol ml⁻¹). Moreover, a significant negative correlation between INF-γ levels and sperm count, motility and morphology was detected, whereas no correlation between INF-γ levels and leukocyte count was found. These findings (i) confirm INF-γ to be present in seminal plasma; (ii) show increased INF-γ secretion in the infertile group; (iii) demonstrate negative correlations of INF-γ with the main spermiogram parameters and (iv) no correlation with leukocyte count. INF-γ may therefore play an important role in male infertility.
Seminal plasma—     

Relationship between seminal plasma interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels with semen parameters in fertile and infertile men

The levels of two proinflammatory cytokines, namely tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), were investigated in seminal plasma (SP) of proven fertile (n=24) and infertile (n=55) men to evaluate the relationship between diagnosis and semen parameters in a prospective study. Infertile men were divided into four groups as follows: (1) varicocele (n=23), (2) 3 months after varicocelectomy (post-varicocele, n=14), (3) male accessory gland infection (MAGI, n=10) and (4) bilateral testicular atrophy (n=8). IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels were similar in the SP of fertile and infertile men. There was a strong correlation between the levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in all groups (P<0.001). IL-6 levels were not correlated with seminal parameters (P>0.05). TNF-alpha levels were negatively correlated with the sperm motility and morphology (P<0.05), but there was no correlation with total sperm counts (P>0.05). The mean levels of IL-6 in the SP of the MAGI group was higher than in the other groups but did not reach statistical significance. No variation was found in the SP levels of the proinflammatory cytokines studied between the varicocele and the post-varicocele groups. Our results suggest that IL-6 and TNF-alpha are involved in male fertility. However, their measurement in SP seem to be unsuitable for routine infertility work, perhaps with the exception of men with inflammatory genital diseases.     

Soluble IL-6 receptor levels in the seminal plasma of infertile patients with accessory gland infection

The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of soluble interleukin-6 receptor (SIL-6R) in seminal plasma, to show eventual differences between SIL-6R concentrations in fertile and infertile men, and to evaluate the possible value of measuring these substances for the diagnosis of male accessory gland infection. SIL-6R levels were determined by "sandwich" enzyme immunoassay in the seminal plasma of 82 men divided into 7 groups according to the etiological diagnosis of fertility. The levels of SIL-6R in the seminal plasma of men with infection of the accessory genital glands were statistically significantly different in comparison with other groups (p < .001). The results suggest that urogenital infections may lead to elevated levels of SIL-6R in the seminal plasma. This measurement of SIL-6R in semen may provide clinically useful information for the diagnosis of male accessory gland infection.     

Seminal transferrin levels in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.

Seminal plasma transferrin levels as well as serum FSH and LH levels were measured in fertile (normozoospermic) and infertile (oligozoospermic and azoospermic) men in an effort to find out whether transferrin levels correlated with sperm density and serum FSH and LH levels. Seminal plasma transferrin levels were found to be significantly lower (p < 0.0005) in the infertile group than the fertile group. Seminal plasma transferrin levels can be regarded as a functional parameter of Sertoli cell function in men.     

男性不育症患者精浆一氧化氮与细胞因子相关性研究

目的：探讨男性不育症患者精浆一氧化氮（NO）与肿瘤坏死因子α（TNFα）、白介素6（IL－6）、白介素8（IL－8）的相互关系及其在发病中的作用。方法：测定男性不育症患者80例精浆中NO2^-、TNFα、IL－6、IL－8含量,并同健康已育男性对照。TNFα、IL－6、IL－8测定用ELISA法,二氧化氮离子（NO2^-）测定用萘乙胺盐比色法。结果：男性不育症患者精浆NO2^-、TNFα、IL－6、IL－8含量显著高于正常对照组（P＜0．01,P＜0．05）。NO2^-与TNFα、IL－6、IL－8呈正相关。结论：NO、TNFα、IL-6、IL－8参与男性不育症的发病,监测不育症患者精浆中NO及TNFα、IL－6、IL－8在诊断及治疗上有指导意义。     

Increased levels of interleukin-8 in human seminal plasma

Summary.  The role of cell-mediated immunity in the aetiopathogenesis of male infertility is far from being defined. The cytochemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) has a key role in T-cell mediated immune responses. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of IL-8 in human seminal plasma, to show differences between IL-8 concentrations in fertile and infertile subjects, and to show the potential relationship between IL-8 amounts in semen and spermiogram parameters. IL-8 levels were determined in the seminal plasma of 77 men divided as follows: (a) into seven groups according to the aetiological diagnosis of fertility and (b) into two groups on the basis of a normal or abnormal spermiogram. The mean value of IL-8 in the seminal plasma was 31.5 times higher than the upper limit in normal serum. There is a borderline statistical significant difference among the means of the various groups ( P <0.051). The Tukey's HSD test for multiple comparisons indicated no two groups as being significantly different, whereas the less conservative test LSD showed significant differences between the group with infection and groups with normal controls, Klinefelter's syndrome, mumps orchitis, cryptorchidism, or varicocele. There was no significant difference in IL-8 levels between men with normal and those with abnormal spermiograms. Furthermore, there was no correlation between IL-8 levels and the variables of the spermiogram. Even though the conclusions of this study have to be tempered by the sample size, IL-8 concentration in seminal plasma may be considered as a potential marker for the diagnosis of male accessory gland infection.     

Possible significance of transferrin levels in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men

Human seminal plasma contains large amounts of transferrin, which is a protein secreted mostly by Sertoli cells. It has been suggested that the concentration of transferrin may serve as a possible clinical marker of Sertoli cell function. Therefore the concentration of this protein in human seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men has been evaluated in order to find a relationship between transferrin concentrations and human semen parameters and plasma FSH levels. Findings show that seminal transferrin in subjects with oligozoospermia or azoospermia is significantly lower than in controls, and that it is strongly related to sperm count. Results also indicate that transferrin secretion can be impaired when plasma FSH levels are still normal, suggesting that seminal transferrin is an early and specific marker of Sertoli cell function. These results, however, do not clarify whether impairment of transferrin secretion by Sertoli cells is due to an organic dysfunction or to an organic secretory alteration.     

Glycerophosphocholine in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men

Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) was measured in seminal plasma from 65 fertile men, 276 infertile men and 10 men before and after vasectomy, using a new enzymatic method. Extra-epididymal excretion of GPC accounted for 30% of the total seminal levels of GPC. From a diagnostic point of view, GPC determination did not appear to be a specific tool which could discriminate between secretory and excretory azoospermia. Although the seminal content of GPC was related positively to the total sperm count in both fertile and infertile men, there was an inverse relationship between the level of GPC and sperm motility when considering classes displaying the same total sperm count. This was observed in all classes from infertile men as well as in fertile men with a total sperm count lower than 200 x 10(6) sperm/ejaculate. These results suggest a possible role of GPC in the regulation of human sperm motility, which warrants further investigation.     

Beta-endorphin in serum and seminal plasma in infertile men

Aim:To access beta-endorphin levels in serum as well as seminal plasma in different infertile male groups.Methods:Beta-endorphin was estimated in the serum and seminal plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method in 80 infertile men equally divided into four groups:non-obstructive azoospermia(NOA),obstructive azoosper-mia(OA),congenital bilateral absent vas deferens(CBVAD)and asthenozoospermia.The results were compared tothose of 20 normozoospermic proven fertile men.Results:There was a decrease in the mean levels of beta-endorphin in the seminal plasma of all successive infertile groups(mean±SD:NOA 51.30±27.37,OA 51.88±9.47,CBAVD 20.36±13.39,asthenozoospermia 49.26±12.49 pg/mL,respectively)compared to the normozoospermicfertile control(87.23±29.55 pg/mL).This relation was not present in mean serum level of beta-endorphin betweenfour infertile groups(51.09±14.71,49.76±12.4,33.96±7.2,69.1±16.57 pg/mL,respectively)and the fertilecontrol group(49.26±31.32 pg/mL).The CBVAD group showed the lowest seminal plasma mean level of beta-endorphin.Testicular contribution of seminal beta-endorphin was estimated to be approximately 40%.Seminal beta-endorphin showed significant correlation with the sperm concentration(r=0.699,P=0.0188)and nonsignificantcorrelation with its serum level(r=0.375,P=0.185)or with the sperm motility percentage(r=0.470,P=0.899).Conclusion:The estimation of beta-endorphin alone is not conclusive to evaluate male reproduction as there aremany other opiates acting at the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.(Asian J Androl 2006 Nov;8:709-712)     

Antioxidant activity of seminal plasma in fertile and infertile men

This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the total antioxidant capacity among fertile and infertile men. Thirty infertile patients and 20 fertility-proven healthy donors with normal sperm analysis were included in the study. Total antioxidant capacity, zinc and fructose levels of seminal plasma, and various sperm parameters were compared among fertile controls and idiopathic infertility patients prospectively. The mean antioxidant capacity of fertile controls (2.02 +/- 0.16 mmol/L) was significantly higher than that of the infertile patients group (1.78 +/- 0.23 mmol/L) (p < .01). Furthermore, asthenozoospermic and asthenoteratozoospermic groups had significantly lower mean antioxidant values (1.73 +/- 0.11 and 1.64 +/- 0.13, respectively) when compared to fertile control group (p < .01). The mean fructose level was significantly lower in the fertile control group and mean zinc level was significantly lower in the entire infertile group. On the other hand, antioxidant capacity is positively correlated to sperm motility (p = .001). Decreased antioxidant capacity was associated with impaired sperm function as a result of either increased ROS production or insufficient antioxidant capacity.     

Assessment of seminal plasma laminin in fertile and infertile men

Aim： To assess laminin levels in the seminal plasma of infertile and fertile men, and to analyze the correlation of laminin levels with sperm count, age, sperm motility and semen volume. Methods： One hundred and twenty-five recruited men were equally divided into five groups according to their sperm concentration and clinical examination： fertile normozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, non-obstructive azoospermia （NOA）, obstructive azoospermia （OA） and congenital bilateral absent vas deferens （CBAVD）. The patients＇ medical history was investigated and patients underwent clinical examination, conventional semen analysis and estimation of seminal plasma laminin by radioimmunoassay. Results： Seminal plasma laminin levels of successive groups were： 2.82 ± 0.62, 2.49 ± 0.44, 1.77 ± 0.56, 1.72 ± 0.76, 1.35 ± 0.63 U/mL, respectively. The fertile normozoospermic group showed the highest concentration compared to all infertile groups with significant differences compared to azoospermic groups （P 〈 0.05）. Testicular contribution was estimated to be approximately one-third of the seminal laminin. Seminal plasma laminin demonstrated significant correlation with sperm concentration （r = 0.460, P 〈 0.001） and nonsignificant correlation with age （r = 0.021, P = 0.940）, sperm motility percentage （r = 0.142, P = 0.615） and semen volume （r = 0.035, P = 0.087）. Conelusion： Seminal plasma laminin is derived mostly from prostatic and testicular portions and minimally from the seminal vesicle and vas deferens. Estimating seminal laminin alone is not conclusive in diagnosing different cases of male infertility.     

Levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in seminal fluid of men attending an andrological clinic

The presence of interleukins (IL) and other cytokines in seminal plasma was demonstrated in the literature. In particular, the levels of IL-6 were found to be related to male accessory gland inflammation. The close correlation to leucocyte count indicates a production of interleukins from the leucocytes and by the prostate gland. No relation of IL-6 levels to spermatogenic activity was quoted in the literature. We measured IL-6 and IL-8 in 454 men and compared the values with seminal parameters. The mean values of IL-6 30.7 +/- 101.2 pg ml-1 and IL-8 2023 +/- 1721 pg ml-1. The correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation of IL-6 and/or IL-8 to age, total fructose, immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration and leucocyte count. The significant correlation of IL-6 and fructose levels indicates that also the seminal vesicles take part in the production of seminal IL-6. No correlation of the two interleukins measured to sperm parameters occurred. The calculation of a single harmonic trend revealed a significant trend over the year of the levels of IL-6 with a maximum in December and a peak-to-trough variation of 33% of the mean. It may be the consequence of a higher frequency of seminal tract inflammations in autumn and winter.     

Significance of malondialdehyde concentration in seminal plasma of infertile men

Objective: To determine the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), product of lipid peroxidation, in seminal plasma and evalu ate its significance. Methods: Ninety-three cases of infertile pa tients were divided into the obstructive azoospermic (12 cases), the non-obstructive azoospermic (15 cases), the oligozoospermic (21 cases), the asthenozoospermic (19 cases), the oligoastheno zoospermic (16 cases) and the oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (10) groups. Eighteen fertile males served as the controls. MDA con centration was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatogra phy (HPLC). Results: With the exception of the obstructive azoospermic group, the MDA concentration in the seminal plasma was significantly different between the control group and the infer tile groups (P<0.01) as well as between the different infertile groups. Conclusion: Determination of MDA concentration in the seminal plasma is helpful to the diagnosis of male infertility induced by overproduction of reactive oxygen species.     

Analysis of lipid peroxidative levels in seminal plasma of infertile men by high-performance liquid chromatography

For the purpose to evaluate the significance of lipid peroxidative products on male infertility, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), which is one of the final products of lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma, were determined. Ninety-three male infertile patients were divided into obstructive azoospermic group (12 cases), non-obstructive azoospermic group (15 cases), oligozoospermic group (21 cases), asthenozoospermic group (19 cases), oligoasthenozoospermic group (16 cases) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic group (10 cases). Eighteen fertile males were included in the control group. MDA concentrations of seminal plasma in the fertile and infertile men were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the concentration of MDA in seminal plasma differed significantly between the control group and all the infertile groups (P < 0.01) except the obstructive azoospermic group, between the oligoasthenozoospermic group and the oligozoospermic and asthenozoospermic groups (P < 0.01), and between the oligoasthenoteratozoospermic group and the oligozoospermic and asthenozoospermic groups (P < 0.01). MDA concentration of seminal plasma in the oligoasthenoteratozoospermic group differed significantly from that in the oligoasthenozoospermic group (P <0.05). The results suggested that detection of MDA concentrations in seminal plasma by HPLC has an indicative value on the diagnosis of male infertility induced by overproduction of reactive oxygen species in male reproductive system.     

男性不育患者精浆内细胞因子研究

为了研究精浆内细胞因子对男性生育能力的影响,通过对男性不育患者和正常生育男性精浆内细胞因子含量的测定（ Ｅ Ｌ Ｉ Ｓ Ａ） ,发现少精和无精不育患者伴有生殖系特异感染（ 支原体、衣原体、淋球菌） 时细胞因子（ Ｉ Ｌ１ , Ｔ Ｎ Ｆα, Ｉ Ｌ６） 的水平明显高于无生殖系特异感染的不育患者和正常男性,差异有极显著性（ Ｐ＜ ０ ．００１） ,显示在炎症特别是性传播疾病时所产生的细胞因子与男性不育有密切相关性,说明精浆内明显表达不同的细胞因子可能参与影响精子功能,是导致男性不育的原因之一。     

Ca 19-9 in seminal plasma of infertile men

Ca 19-9 levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in the seminal plasma of 108 men divided in (a) eight groups according to etiological diagnosis of infertility and (b) two groups on the basis of normal or abnormal spermiogram. The mean Ca 19-9 (or Ca 19-9-like activity) in the seminal plasma was 114.6 times higher than the upper limit in normal serum. A statistically significant difference was noted in the antigen levels between men with normal and those with abnormal spermiograms, although with wide overlapping of the individual values. There was no correlation between Ca 19-9 levels and the variables of the spermiogram. The prostate seems to be the main site of origin of Ca 19-9 or Ca 19-9-like activity in the seminal plasma.     

Blood/seminal serotonin levels in infertile men with varicocele

Seminal and blood serotonin levels were measured in 37 men with varicocele and in 33 men without palpable varicocele. Elevated levels of blood serotonin and lower levels of seminal serotonin were found in oligozoospermic men with varicocele as compared with men having varicocele but normal seminal quality. No differences in seminal serotonin levels were observed in oligozoospermic men without varicocele. Elevated levels of blood serotonin and lower levels of seminal serotonin in semen in men with varicocele were associated with low sperm count, low sperm motility, low fructose levels, and high citric acid levels. It would appear that serotonin may play a role as an infertility determinant in subjects with varicocele.     

Relationships between levels of estradiol and testosterone in seminal plasma and GSTM1 polymorphism in infertile men

Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) enzyme serves as a steroid-binding protein by its ability to bind to testosterone and estradiol. The levels of total estradiol and testosterone were measured by using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in serum and seminal plasma from 103 subjects including 62 subfertile patients. GSTM1 polymorphism was examined using polymerase chain reaction. The estradiol and testosterone levels in seminal plasma were not different in control and subfertile subjects. No role for GSTM1 enzyme as a steroid-binding protein seemed likely as there was also no significant difference in seminal plasma estradiol and testosterone levels according to GSTM1 genotype. Significant positive correlations were found between seminal estradiol and serum estradiol in infertile males, and between seminal testosterone and serum testosterone in fertile males, independent of GSTM1 genotype. GSTM1 polymorphism is not a genetic risk factor of seminal estradiol and testosterone levels in infertile males although further studies are warranted.