ANDROGENS IN SEMINAL PLASMA - MARKERS OF THE SURFACE EPITHELIUM OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE-TRACT

Androgens in seminal plasma have been investigated in relation to othe r markers of the male reproductive system. Testosterone and dihydrotes tosterone (DHT) were measured by radioimmunoassay after paper chromato graphy in 104 semen samples. Concentrations of testosterone and DHT we re significantly lower in samples from patients with abnormal sperm ch aracteristics than in men with normozoospermia. Both testosterone and DHT were correlated significantly with sperm concentration (r = 0.40, p < 0.001; r = 0.41, p < 0.001, respectively), motile sperm concentrat ion (r = 0.35, p < 0.01; r = 0.35, p < 0.01) and ATP concentration (r = 0.59, p < 0.001; r = 0.45, p < 0.001). In addition, the total amount s of testosterone and DHT were correlated with total activity of alpha -glucosidase (r = 0.49, p < 0.001; r = 0.58, p < 0.01), and gamma-glut amyltransferase (r = 0.49, p < 0.001; r = 0.48, p < 0.001) in seminal plasma. Transferrin (Tf) concentration in seminal plasma was significa ntly lower in samples without spermatozoa, and total Tf content was lo wer in oligozoospermic samples (p < 0.05). Testosterone and DHT were c orrelated positively with Tf levels in seminal plasma (r = 0.48, p < 0 .0001; r = 0.78, p < 0.0001 respectively). Testosterone, DHT and Tf in seminal plasma were higher in the first than in the second fraction o f split ejaculates, and DHT, but not testosterone, increased significa ntly in each of six patients treated with tamoxifen. Testosterone, DHT , and Tf in seminal plasma were not correlated with serum concentratio ns of LH, FSH, testosterone or prolactin, but the DHT : T ratio in sem inal plasma was correlated with serum LH (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). It is c oncluded that the concentration of androgens in seminal plasma is rela ted predominantly to the activity of the seminiferous epithelium and, to a lesser extent, to the function of the accessory sex glands.