Seminal plasma biochemical markers and their association with semen analysis findings

Objectives. To examine the clinical value of six seminal plasma components in the evaluation of sperm duality and in the differential diagnosis of men with infertility. Methods. We analyzed 202 seminal plasmas for prostate-specific antigen, glu cose, pepsinogen C, insulinlike growth factor binding protein-3, prostaglan din D synthase (PGDS), and BRCA1-like immunoreactive protein (BRCA1-LIP) us ing quantitative immunofluorometric procedures. The semen donors were categ orized in four clinical groups: normal, oligospermic, azoospermic, and vase ctomy patients. We then evaluated whether any of these biochemical markers were associated with other parameters of sperm quality, including patient a ge, total cell concentration, percentage of motility, and percentage of nor mal morphology. Results. We found that only PGDS concentration was significantly associated with other parameters of sperm quality. PGDS concentration correlated posi tively with total cell concentration (r = 0.55), percentage of motility (r = 0.31), and percentage of normal morphology (r = 0.31). Median PGDS concen tration in seminal plasma decreased progressively from normal to oligosperm ic to azoospermic to vasectomy patients (P <0.001). There was no overlap be tween seminal plasma PGDS concentration of normal subjects versus vasectomy patients. The only other parameter that was moderately decreased in vasect omy patients was BRCA1-LIP. The source of PGDS in seminal plasma was determ ined with various techniques, including immunohistochemistry. This protein is produced and secreted by the Sertoli cells. Conclusions, Our findings suggest that PGDS concentration in seminal plasma correlates with other known indicators of semen quality and is a new marke r of post-testicular obstruction. This biochemical parameter could be used to aid in the differential diagnosis of obstructive and nonobstructive azoo spermia in men with infertility. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.