IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTORS IN SPERMATOZOA OF INFERTILE MEN

Objective-To evaluate the clinical implication of sex steroidal action s on human spermatozoa. Patients and Methods-Human spermatozoa were ob tained from 20 males. Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen recept ors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) was conducted by the avidin-b iotin-peroxidase complex method. Results-Positive immunohistochemical staining of ER and PR was observed in all 8 cases of fertile couples. From infertile couples, ER detected in 8/12 cases, including 3 with no rmozoospermia, 2 with oligozoospermia, 1 with asthenozoospermia, and 2 with teratozoospermia, but not in 4/12 cases, 1 with normozoospermia, 1 with asthenozoospermia, and 2 with oligoasthenozoospermia. PR were undetectable in all cases of negative ER and in 1 case (normozoospermi a) of positive ER. Conclusion-Negative ER and/or PR in spermatozoa fro m infertile couples might be involved in cases of male infertility.