Changes of FSH, LH, Prl levels in blood and seminal fluid during long – lasting clomiphene citrate administration

Abstract

Immunoreactive FSH, LH, and Prl in seminal fluid have been described by several authors. This observation has reasonably raised the question as to the source and the significance of these substances in the seminal fluid. Diffusion from the peripheral serum and active secretion by the seminal vesicles, prostate and the seminiferous tubules are the possible modes of entry of these hormones in seminal plasma.In order to elucidate the source of these substances we studied the changes of LH, FSH and Prl levels in blood and seminal fluid after clomiphene citrate administration. Clomiphene citrate is an antioestrogenic compound which is used in the treatment of normogonadotrophic hypofertile men and increases the levels of LH and FSH in peripheral serum by the stimulation of GnRH (Smith & Rodriguez \ p=n-\ Rigau 1974). Subjects and MethodsIn fourteen normogonadotrophic men with idiopathic oligospermia, clomiphene citrate (C.C.), 50 mg/day, was administered continuously for seven months. Before the treatment and each month during the C.C. administration semen analysis was performed. One hour after masturbation 10 ml vein blood was taken and LH, FSH and Prl were deter¬ mined in serum and seminal plasma by specific radioimmunoassays (Messinis 1981). ResultsAs shown in Fig. 1 the mean levels of FSH and Prl are significantly (p< 0.02 and <0.001 respec¬ tively) lower, while that of LH significantly (p< 0.001) higher in seminal fluid as compared to serum. The CC. treatment led to significant (p<0.01) increase in FSH levels in both serum and seminal fluid. The level of LH was significantly (p<0.01) increased only in the serum, whithout any significant increase in the seminal plasma, even after seven months treatment. The relative rise of FSH in serum was smaller (p<0.01) than in seminal fluid CC. administration did not cause any change in the Prl levels both in seminal fluid and serum. No significant correlation was observed between the concentration of LH, FSH and Prl in serum and seminal plasma, before or during CC. treatment (Tabi. 1). There were significant correlations (Table 1) between sperm count and seminal LH, seminal Prl and serum FSH. DiscussionThe basal levels of LH were higher, while those of FSH lower in seminal plasma than in serum.These results are in agreement with other authors (Dericks-Tan et al. 1978). The seminal Prl levels lowever, in contrast with other authors, were found significantly (p< 0.001) lower than in serum. This might be due to the fact that our study concerned oligospermic men, where the seminal Prl levels were