A. Zalata et al., ANDROGENS IN SEMINAL PLASMA - MARKERS OF THE SURFACE EPITHELIUM OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE-TRACT, International journal of andrology, 18(5), 1995, pp. 271-277
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.