Seminal estrone, estrone sulfate, and estradiol-17 beta levels in fertile and infertile males

The seminal levels of estrone (E1), estrone sulphate (E1S), and estradiol-17 beta (E2) were measured simultaneously after a chromatographic step in the semen samples of 79 men, including fertile volunteers, vasectomized subjects, and patients with oligozoospermia and secretory azoospermia. E1S concentrations in seminal plasma were higher than in serum (with a semen/serum ratio of approximately 2). Seminal E1 and E1S levels in oligozoospermic subjects were significantly decreased compared to controls (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.03, respectively). The seminal E1S concentration was significantly reduced in azoospermic patients (p less than 0.02) and to a greater extent in vasectomized subjects (p less than 0.001). As seminal E1S is likely to be mainly of testicular origin, the decreased seminal E1S levels in oligoazoospermia are an index of impaired testicular function.     

利用H4和SAX-2蛋白质芯片技术筛查少精子症患者精浆标志物

目的:通过蛋白质组学技术筛查少精子症患者精浆中特异性生物标志物。方法:用H4和SAX-2蛋白质芯片结合SELD I-TOF-MS对20例少精子症患者及20例生育男性精浆样本进行检测,比较两者间蛋白质图谱表达差异。结果:在H4蛋白质芯片上,少精子症患者精浆与生育男性精浆蛋白质图谱相比,有1处蛋白质峰明显增高,差异有显著性(P<0.05),其相对分子质量(Mr)为11 507.4,有1处蛋白质峰明显降低,差异有显著性(P<0.05),其Mr为11 022.9;在SAX-2蛋白质芯片上,少精子症患者精浆与生育男性精浆蛋白质图谱相比有1处蛋白质峰明显增高,差异有显著性(P<0.05),其Mr为16 751.6。结论:少精子症患者精浆中特异性蛋白质的发现,对探究由少精子症引起的男性不育机制及其临床筛查皆具重要意义。     

生精片对男性少弱精子症患者精液参数的影响及作用机制研究

目的:观察生精片治疗男性少弱精子症患者的临床有效性,并对其作用机制进行探讨。方法:选取少弱精子症患者120例,采取随机对照研究的方法,治疗组口服生精片,对照组服用维生素E,服用12周后,观察治疗前后两组精子浓度、精子活力及正常形态精子百分率,血清FSH、T、LH水平,DNA碎片指数,低渗肿胀精子百分率,精浆弹性蛋白酶、α-葡糖苷酶、精子顶体酶、果糖及精浆锌等指标变化。结果:生精片能显著改善精子浓度、活力和形态(P<0.01),血清FSH水平明显降低,T明显升高(P<0.01),DNA碎片指数明显降低,低渗肿胀精子百分率显著升高,弹性蛋白酶明显降低,α-葡糖苷酶、精子顶体酶、果糖、精浆锌等水平明显升高。结论:生精片通过多层次、多环节、多途径改善少弱精子症患者的精液参数,具有良好的临床疗效。     

精浆和血清生殖激素与精液质量的关系

目的为了评估精液质量不同的男性精浆和血清生殖激素的浓度与精子浓度及活动力的关系,探索精浆与血清生殖激素的关系。方法对301名男性进行精液检查,按照精液的质量参数将受试对象分成4组:精液正常组(n=176),弱精子症组(n=66),少精子症组(n=40)和非梗阻性无精子症组(n=19)。采用电化学发光免疫法测定各组受试对象血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、泌乳素(PRL)、孕酮(P)、睾酮(T)和雌二醇(E2)六项生殖激素和精浆PRL、T、P和E2四项生殖激素的浓度,比较组间差异并进行相关性分析。结果精液正常组和弱精子症组血清FSH和E2的浓度显著低于少精子症组和非梗阻性无精子症组(P0.05),精液正常组血清LH和P的浓度显著低于弱精子症、少精子症和非梗阻性无精子症的人群(P0.05);而精液正常、弱精子症和少精子症三组精浆PRL的浓度则高于非梗阻性无精子症组(P0.05)。除了非梗阻性无精子症组,受试者血清FSH的浓度与其精子浓度呈负相关(r分别为-0.350、-0.273和-0.448,P0.05)。精液正常组精浆PRL的浓度和精子的浓度之间呈正相关(r=0.269,P0.05);在少精子症组中,亦有相同趋势的相关性(r=0.432,P0.05)。结论精浆PRL及血清FSH的浓度能够反映精子浓度或活动力,在男性不育的病因分析中具有一定的指导价值。     

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.     

严重少精子症患者与正常生育男性精浆蛋白质群比较分析

目的:探讨严重少精子症和正常生育男性精浆蛋白质群的差异性。方法:11例正常健康已生育的自愿者(正常组)和6例严重少精子症男性精液标本通过Percoll分离获取精浆。采用SELDI-TOF-MS,经CM10芯片捕获蛋白质并用TOF-MS对蛋白质进行检测,获得各样本的蛋白质指纹图谱,经过归一化处理后进行组间比较。结果:严重少精子症组与正常组比较仅有2种低丰度蛋白质表达存在差异,与非梗阻性无精子症组比较差异蛋白质达15种。蛋白质荷比(m/z)分别为7196.058、7547.610、5780.493、7059.844、7409.589、5379.173、10778.810的7种蛋白质是严重少精子症、正常组与非梗阻性无精子症组的共同差异蛋白质,除后两者在非梗阻性无精子症中含量升高外,其余含量均降低。结论:严重少精子症的精浆蛋白质群与正常组差异较小,即两者的精浆蛋白质组成较为相似,但二者均与非梗阻性无精子症存在显著差异。提示严重少精子症和非梗阻性无精子症的发生机制不同,并非仅是遗传因素量的累加。     

Serum and seminal gonadotropins in normal and infertile men: correlations with sperm count, prolactinemia, and seminal prolactin.

Serum and seminal gonadotropins were evaluated in 30 normozoospermic and 30 oligozoospermic patients. Mean values of basal serum gonadotropins were higher in the oligozoospermic group than in the normozoospermic group: 3.8 versus 1.8 ng/ml and 3.3 versus 2.2 ng/ml for FSH and LH, respectively. Seminal FSH levels were comparable in the normozoospermic and oligozoospermic groups (0.8 versus 0.8 ng/ml, respectively) and were constantly lower than serum FSH levels in both groups. Seminal LH values were constantly higher than serum LH values in the normozoospermic group, whereas in the oligozoospermic group seminal LH values were higher, similar, or lower than serum LH values. However, no significant difference was noted between the two groups for seminal LH values: 3.6 (normozoospermic group) versus 4.1 ng/ml (oligozoospermic group).     

Study of transferrin concentration in the human seminal plasma

Recently, the seminal plasma transferrin concentration has been reported to be a possible clinical marker of the Sertoli cell function. In the present study we measured the seminal plasma transferrin concentration in patients of male infertility by the method of radial immunodiffusion. The results obtained were as follows. 1. The seminal plasma transferrin concentration is significantly correlated to sperm density (p less than 0.001). However, no significant correlations were obtained to sperm motility, serum LH, FSH and testosterone levels. 2. The seminal plasma transferrin concentration in patients of ductal obstruction was 16.2 +/- 4.1 micrograms/ml, which was approximately 20% of pregnancy-proven men (77.5 +/- 49.0 micrograms/ml). This indicates that seminal plasma transferrin originates mainly from the testis. 3. The seminal plasma transferrin concentrations in oligozoospermic men associated with varicocele and in patients of spermatid arrest were low and their values were 22.1 +/- 7.5 micrograms/ml and 13.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. In these patients the involvement of Sertoli cell dysfunction was suggested. 4. Patients of idiopathic oligozoospermia were divided into two subgroups: patients with high seminal plasma transferrin concentrations (128.3 +/- 23.8 micrograms/ml) and those with low seminal plasma transferrin concentrations (29.8 +/- 0.9 micrograms/ml). The serum gonadotropins levels in the former group was at the same level as those of pregnancy-proven men and the levels of the latter group were significantly elevated. These observations suggest that the two groups thus divided belong to different categories of the disease.     

The effect of prostate cancer and antiandrogenic therapy on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant systems

In living organism, excessive free radicals or oxidative damage which occur as a result of deficient antioxidant defensive mechanisms by the effect of endogenous and exogenous factors, influences especially developmental steps of chemically induced cancers. In our study, plasma malondialdehyde level (MDA) as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) level as an indicator of antioxidant state, glutathione reductase (GSH-Red), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as an antioxidant enzymes and plasma vitamin E level were detected in patients with prostate cancer (21 males; age, 69.4 +/- 4.8 years) before and after three months of antiandrogenic therapy with goserelin acetate as luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue. Healthy people evaluated as a control group (20 males; age, 63.7 +/- 3.9). Erythrocyte GSH levels, the activities of GSH-Red and GSH-Px and plasma vitamin E levels were found significantly low in patients with prostate cancer when compared with the healthy subjects (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < or = 0.001 and p < or = 0.001 respectively). Plasma MDA level and erythrocyte GST activity of patient group were significantly higher than the levels of control group (p < or = 0.001 and p < or = 0.001 respectively). After antiandrogenic therapy erythrocyte GSH level, GSH-Red, GSH-Px activity and plasma vitamin E level were found unchanged. Significant decrease in plasma MDA level and significant increase in erythrocyte GST activity were detected in patient group (p < 0.05 and p < or = 0.01 respectively). The study has revealed the shift in the oxidant-antioxidant balance towards oxidative state in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Our results showed that antiandrogenic therapy increased in GST activity, decreased in lipid peroxidation.     

Bradykininase and protease inhibitors in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.

The level of protease acrosin in the seminal plasma of oligozoospermic men was significantly higher than that of normozoospermic men. The amount of bradykininase in the seminal plasma was very high in both normozoospermic and oligozoospermic patients. When the acrosin and kininase content was referred to one million spermatozoa, seminal plasma kininase was significantly enhanced in oligozoospermic men, while the acrosin activity was similar in normozoospermic fertile men and infertile men. Human seminal plasma inhibitor I (HUSI I) increased along with sperm count. Human seminal plasma inhibitor II (HUSI II) showed no change. The motility of spermatozoa was depressed in oligozoospermic patients.     

Effects of testosterone and vitamin E on the antioxidant system in rabbit testis

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of testosterone propionate and vitamin E on the antioxidant system in the testis. Thirty-two male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was used as control. The second group was injected with testosterone propionate, the third group vitamin E and the fourth group vitamin E and testosterone propionate combination. All treatments were carried out during 6 weeks and oxidative parameters were evaluated in homogenized testicular tissue. The levels of vitamin E and the activity of glutathione peroxidase were lower (P < 0.05) in the testosterone group than in controls. However, vitamin C and malondialdehyde levels were higher (P < 0.05) in this group than in controls. The levels of reduced glutathione, beta-carotene, vitamin C and E increased, but malondialdehyde levels decreased in the vitamin E group, when compared with controls (P < 0.05). Vitamin E and beta-carotene levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the combination group than in testosterone group. However, MDA levels were lower (P < 0.05) in combination group than in the testosterone group. In conclusion, administration of testosterone propionate led to a significant elevation of oxidative stress. Vitamin E is quite an effective antioxidant which protects rabbit testis against lipid peroxidation, and, testosterone-induced lipid peroxidation could be improved by additional vitamin E treatment.     

Plasma levels of vitamin E and lipoperoxide during paediatric anaesthesia

We measured plasma levels of vitamin E (total tocopherol) and lipoperoxide in seventeen neonates (less than 10 days), twenty infants (1-12 months) and ten children (1-5 years) during anaesthesia. The seventeen neonates were randomly divided into two groups; seven who received 30 mg X kg-1 of alpha-tocopheryl acetate intramuscularly before anaesthesia and ten who did not. The 20 infants were divided into three groups: Group 1: eight infants who did not receive vitamin E; Group 2: six who received 30 mg X kg-1 of alpha-tocopheryl acetate orally for three days before anaesthesia; Group 3: six who received 30 mg X kg-1 of alpha-tocopheryl acetate intramuscularly three hours before anaesthesia. In the neonates who did not receive alpha-tocopheryl acetate, plasma vitamin E and lipoperoxide levels were unchanged following surgery. In Group 1 infants, plasma vitamin E levels decreased (p less than 0.05) and plasma lipoperoxide levels increased (p less than 0.05). In both neonates who received vitamin E and Group 3 infants the mean plasma vitamin E levels increased significantly (p less than 0.05) following surgery. In Group 2 infants, the levels of plasma vitamin E before surgery were high, as compared to the other groups: however, plasma vitamin E levels decreased following surgery. In the children, the plasma vitamin E levels were unchanged, while the plasma lipoperoxide levels decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) during anaesthesia. It is suggested from our studies that plasma vitamin E levels decrease and plasma lipoperoxide levels increase during anaesthesia and surgery in infants; however, those levels are unchanged in neonates.     

Seminal plasma levels of PAPP-A in normospermic and oligospermic men and tissue localization of PAPP-A in the male genital tract

Radioimmunoassay, gel filtration, isoelectric focusing, and immunoperoxidase methods were used to study the levels, properties, and localization of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in the human seminal plasma and male genital tract. Seminal plasma specimens from 20 normospermic and 20 oligospermic men were studied. PAPP-A was found in 30 of 40 samples, the levels ranging from undetectable to 135 micrograms/liter (median 35 micrograms/liter) in the normospermic group and from undetectable to 111 micrograms/liter (median 21 micrograms/liter) in the oligospermic group. There was no significant difference in the PAPP-A levels between the two groups, and no correlation was observed between the seminal plasma PAPP-A levels and the volume of seminal plasma or the sperm count or the viability of spermatozoa. Serial dilutions of seminal plasma and PAPP-A standard yielded parallel dose-response curves, and incubation with seminal plasma did not result in any change in the elution pattern of [125I]PAPP-A in gel filtration. PAPP-A-immunoreactive material from seminal plasma eluted as two peaks, the major one corresponding to the elution volume of purified PAPP-A and the minor eluting more slowly. The isoelectric point of seminal plasma PAPP-A was 4.3-4.7 and that of term pregnancy serum was 4.2-4.6. In the immunoperoxidase staining, PAPP-A was seen in the epithelium of the prostate, seminal vesicle, and the ampullar part of the vas deferens but not in the testis, epididymis, proximal parts of vas deferens or urethra. The results confirm the occurrence of PAPP-A in the seminal plasma but do not suggest any clinical utility for seminal plasma PAPP-A measurements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metenkephalin in Seminal Plasma of Infertile Men

Background: Enkephalin is one of the opioids, which is expressed widely in reproductive organs. However, the function of enkephalin in male reproduction is not completely understood. The effect of metenkephalin on sperm motility remains especially controversial. In this study we examined the level of metenkephalin in seminal plasma from men with normal sperm production and patients with asthenospermia, oligospermia, and azoospermia to investigate the role of metenkephalin in seminal plasma on sperm function. We also investigated the effect of metenkephalin on sperm motility in vitro.
Methods: Sixty nine infertile patients (31 oligospermic, 21 asthenospermic, and 17 azoospermic) were included in this study. The level of metenkephalin in seminal plasma of these men was measured and the effect of the peptide on the motility of human sperm was examined in vitro. Seventeen men with normal seminograms were a control group.
Results: The level of metenkephalin in the seminal plasma of semen from asthenospermic men was significantly lower than that from the controls ( P < 0.05). No significant correlations between the level of metenkephalin and the mean pathing or progressive velocity of sperm, or serum hormone levels were observed. In the in vitro study, which used semen from the controls, treatment of sperm with metenkephalin (50–200 pg/mL) maintained sperm motility for 4 hours. On the other hand, motility of sperm incubated without metenkephalin began to decrease at 3 hours. Metenkephalin levels of 50 pg/mL in seminal plasma is considered to be necessary for maintaining sperm motility.
Conclusion: These results suggest that metenkephalin in seminal plasma is an important clue in the investigation of decreased sperm motility.     

男性不育患者精浆尿酸的检测及临床意义初探

目的 :检测男性不育患者精浆尿酸的含量 ,并探讨其与不育的关系。　方法 :2 0 0 3年 2～ 8月就诊的男性不育患者 1 6 3例 ,分为 4组 :梗阻性无精子症组 ,1 5例 ;非梗阻性无精子症组 ,36例 ;少精子症组 ,4 3例 ;弱精子症组 ,6 9例。 2 0例正常生育男性为正常对照组。上述各组均作精液参数分析及精浆尿酸含量的测定。　结果 :正常对照组精浆尿酸含量为 (396 .9± 5 3.1 ) μmol/L ,显著高于梗阻性无精子症组 [(79.5± 1 8.1 ) μmol/L]、非梗阻性无精子症组[(2 4 5 .8± 76 .5 ) μmol/L]、少精子症组 [(2 6 2 .2± 79.2 ) μmol/L]和弱精子症组 [(2 5 1 .4± 75 .4 ) μmol/L](P均 <0 .0 1 )。其中 ,梗阻性无精子症组精浆尿酸含量又显著低于其他各不育症组 (P均 <0 .0 1 ) ,其余各不育症组间精浆尿酸含量差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。　结论 :精浆中尿酸作为生殖系统中的一种重要抗氧化物 ,可能在男性生殖中具有一定意义。     

Immunosuppressive activity and polyamine levels of seminal plasma in azo-ospermic, oligospermic, and normospermic men

Seventy specimens of human seminal plasma obtained from azo-ospermic, oligospermic, and normospermic men were tested for immunosuppressive activity on normal donor lymphocytes. Spermine and spermidine levels in acidic extracts were determined in 32 specimens of seminal plasma from the three groups. The original seminal plasma as well as the neutralized spermine extracts were examined for their effect on the functional activity of the lymphocytes. Seminal plasma obtained from the normospermic and oligospermic semen showed significant immunosuppressive activity, whereas no immunosuppressive activity was induced by seminal plasma from azo-ospermic semen. The latter finding was in accordance with the low spermine levels in azo-ospermic semen, which were about 50% of those found in normospermic and oligospermic seman. Acidic extraction of the seminal plasma of azo-ospermic origin resulted in an increase in spermine levels and also in immunosuppressive activity, demonstrating that in azo-ospermic men spermine is bound probably to a protein and is released after acidification, exerting its immunosuppressive activity only when unbound.     

Seminal plasma levels of fucosyltransferase, galactosyltransferase and sialyltransferase in normospermic and oligospermic men

The activities of fucosyltransferase, galactosyltransferase, and sialyltransferase were estimated in ultracentrifuged seminal plasma samples from normospermic and oligospermic men. There was no significant difference with regard to these activities between the two groups. Hence, fucosyltransferase activity was high in both normospermic (mean value: 190.2 nmol/l) and oligospermic men (mean value: 157.2 nmol/l) and exceeded that of blood plasma (mean value: 7.6 nmol/l) by 20-25 times. On the contrary, the activity ratio between seminal plasma and blood plasma of galactosyltransferase and sialyltransferase was low and fairly close to 1. A significant correlation was noted between seminal plasma galactosyltransferase activity and semen volume only in normospermic men. Significant inverse correlations in oligospermic men were observed between seminal plasma sialyltransferase activity and sperm concentration (and total sperm count) as well as between galactosyltransferase and fucosyltransferase activities.     

Plasma vitamin E and selenium levels in rats with head trauma

BACKGROUND: Free radicals play an important role in brain damage induced by a head trauma. In this study, we examined the prevention of brain damage that occurs after oxidative stress in rats that had undergone an experimental head trauma and the determination of plasma levels of vitamin E and selenium, which are recognized as antioxidant agents. METHODS: In this study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Rats were divided into 2 groups. In the first group (control group, n = 10), pretraumatic plasma selenium and vitamin E levels were investigated and rats were not traumatized. In the second group (trauma group, n = 10), posttraumatic plasma selenium and vitamin E levels were investigated at the 6th and 24th hours in traumatized rats. RESULTS: In the control group, the plasma selenium level was 107 +/- 8.113 microg/L, whereas vitamin E level was 1.310 +/- 0.048 mg/dL. In the trauma group, the plasma selenium level was 79.93 +/- 3.130 microg/L at the 6th hour and 74.74 +/- 2.947 microg/L at the 24th hour, whereas the vitamin E level was 1.211 +/- 0.056 mg/dL at the 6th hour and 1.136 +/- 0.044 mg/dL at the 24th hour. Normal plasma selenium and vitamin E levels were significantly reduced in the early period after trauma. CONCLUSION: Because of oxidative stress that occurs directly after a head trauma, vitamin E and selenium depletion occurs in the early period. This condition supports the idea that brain damage can be reduced if decreased antioxidants are replaced when a head trauma occurs. We believe that these findings will guide and assist in future studies to develop clinical management strategies to prevent brain damage induced by head trauma.     

Normal spermatogenesis and sperm function in a subject affected by cerebellar ataxia due to congenital vitamin E deficiency

Vitamin E possesses potent beneficial effects on mammalian spermatogenesis and sperm quality. Subjects affected by cerebellar ataxia due to congenital isolated vitamin E deficiency (AVED) show vitamin E deficiency caused by a selective impaired gastrointestinal absorption of vitamin E for a mutation in the gene for α‐tocopherol transfer protein leading to impairment of vitamin E absorption and decreased vitamin E plasma levels. Here, we present a 34‐year‐old male patient with AVED showing normal seminal parameters and normal gonadotrophins, testosterone and inhibin B plasma levels. The normal standard seminal parameters of this patient with AVED possibly question the role of vitamin E in human spermatogenesis.     

精浆内脂质运载蛋白型前列腺素D合成酶与α-葡萄糖苷酶的相关性研究

目的分析脂质运载蛋白型前列腺素D合成酶(L-PGDS)与精浆其他参数之间的关系,探讨L-PGDS在男性生殖系统中的作用。方法分析92份精液中的精子密度、精子活力、L-PGDS浓度、酸性磷酸酶活力以及α-葡萄糖苷酶活力。依据精子密度,将标本分为3组:正常组(精子密度>20×106/ml)、寡精子组(精子密度<20×106/ml)及无精子组(精子密度为0)。彩色精子质量分析系统测定精子密度及活力,双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测精浆内的L-PGDS浓度,分光光度计测定α-葡萄糖苷酶活力。结果正常组、寡精子组以及无精子组患者精浆L-PGDS浓度依次降低,差异显著(P<0.001)。L-PGDS的浓度与α-葡萄糖苷酶、精子密度及精子活力呈正相关,相关系数(r)分别为0.426、0.813和0.380。结论精浆L-PGDS浓度可作为少精子症的辅助诊断指标。