SEMINAL PLASMA LACTOFERRIN CONCENTRATIONS IN NORMAL AND ABNORMAL SEMEN SAMPLES

Although the iron-chelating protein lactoferrin is secreted by the sem inal vesicles, the precise role of lactoferrin in semen is unclear. Th is study aimed to determine whether there is any association between s eminal lactoferrin concentrations and normal and abnormal semen sample s with and without leucocytospermia. Lactoferrin concentrations were m easured by radial immunodiffusion of semen samples from 368 men attend ing a regional andrology referral center. Routine seminal analysis, in cluding the presence of leucocytospermia, was also performed. Results showed increased seminal lactoferrin in samples showing oligospermia ( 13.3 mg/100 ml) and oligoasthenospermia (13.4 mg/100 ml) compared to n ormospermic samples (11.2 mg/100 ml). There were no significant differ ences in seminal lactoferrin between normospermic samples and azoosper mic samples or asthenospermic samples with normal sperm density. Altho ugh there was a trend toward increased lactoferrin concentration with leucocytospermia, this was not significant. Possible causes for raised lactoferrin in association with oligospermia are discussed.