Hepatocyte growth factor in human semen and its association with semen parameters

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a structurally unique growth factor with potent motogenic (motility inducing) effects. Studies in the murine male ge nital tract have suggested important associations between HGF and the acqui sition of sperm motility during epididymal maturation. The aim of this stud y was, therefore, to determine the concentration of HGF in human semen and assess its correlation, if any, with sperm motility and other semen paramet ers. Semen samples were collected by masturbation and analysed using standa rd procedures. HGF concentrations mere measured in duplicate using an enzym e-linked immunoassay technique, Total protein estimations were also made in a subset of samples. The 95 subjects were divided into three groups for an alysis: normozoospermic, subnormal semen and azoospermic, HGF was detected in all samples (median 0.456, 25th centile 0.388, 75th centile 0.556 ng/ml) , No significant correlations were found between semen HGF concentrations a nd sperm concentration, motility, total sperm count or total motile count, There were no significant differences in mean HGF concentrations between th e three subgroups. In conclusion HGF is present in human semen in significa nt quantities. The data do not suggest HGF concentrations are correlated wi th parameters of sperm motility.