IMPAIRED SECRETORY FUNCTION OF THE PROSTATE IN MEN WITH OLIGO-ASTHENOZOOSPERMIA

The secretory function of the human prostate and the seminal vesicles is a prerequisite for gel formation and liquefaction of semen, but the relation to poor sperm motility and low sperm count in infertile men remains to be clarifyed. Our aim was to evaluate the secretory functio n of the prostate and the seminal vesicles in normozoospermic men (n = 35) and in asthenozoospermic men, who were all also oligozoospermic ( n = 27). All 62 subjects belonged to couples undergoing routine infert ility evaluation. In liquefied seminal fluid we measured the concentra tions of fructose and protein C inhibitor (PCl) contributed by the sem inal vesicles, PCl complexed to prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and t he prostatic contribution of zinc, PSA, acid phosphatase (PAP), beta-m icroseminoprotein (beta-MSP), and Zn alpha(2)-glycoprotein (Zn alpha(2 )-GP). The concentration of each prostatic secretory protein correlate d significantly with that of zinc (P < 0.01) in both the normozoosperm ic (NZS) and oligo-asthenozoospermic (OAZS) subgroups, but the PCl con centration did not correlate significantly with that of fructose. Ther e was no significant difference between the NZS and OAZS subgroups in ejaculate volume or secretory contribution from the seminal vesicles, whereas the OAZS subgroup was characterized by significantly lower sec retory contributions of Zn alpha(2)-GP (P = 0.001), Zn, PSA, PAP (P < 0.01), and beta-MSP (P < 0.05). The two subgroups did not differ signi ficantly in the serum concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH), testo sterone, or sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). The results thus sugg est the secretory contribution of major prostatic proteins and zinc pe r ejaculate to be significantly decreased in oligo-asthenozoospermic m en. The importance of this finding in relation to poor sperm count and motility as indicators of impaired gonadal function requires further investigation.