LAMININ AND AMINOTERMINAL PROPEPTIDE OF TYPE-III PROCOLLAGEN IN SEMINAL PLASMA FROM FERTILE AND VASECTOMIZED MEN

The components of the extracellular matrix, laminin and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) were determined in seminal plasma of 50 patients with vasectomy and of 30 age-matched fertile pa tients. The concentration of laminin was highly significantly (P < 0.0 01) elevated in the fertile group as compared to the vasectomy group, whereas the concentrations of PIIINP were not significantly different between these two groups. Only weak correlations were observed between the concentrations of laminin and PIIINP. It is suggested that part o f the laminin found in seminal plasma is derived from the ductus defer ens, while the source of PIIINP is probably located at an upper part o f the urogenital tract.