Evaluation of Serum Testosterone, Progesterone, Seminal Antisperm Antibody, and Fructose Levels among Jordanian Males with a History of Infertility

Abstract

Due to the biochemical complexity of seminal fluid, we attempt to study the possible correlation between fructose, which is secreted under the effect of androgen hormone, and autoimmunity, which might play a role in varicocele associated infertility, in reducing sperm motility. Seminal fructose, antisperm antibodies (ASAs) and blood steroids hormones (testosterone and progesterone) levels were measured in 66 infertile males with varicocele and 84 without varicocele referred for fertility treatment. Seminal analysis was performed with biochemical measurements of seminal fructose and mixed agglutination reaction (MAR) for ASA. Serum levels of progesterone and testosterone were estimated using a competitive chemoluminescent enzyme immunoassay. The mean values for serum testosterone were 380.74 ± 24.331, 365.9 ± 16.55, and 367.5 ± 21.8 ng/dl, progesterone 0.325 ± 0.243, 0.341 ± 0.022, and 0.357 ± 0.0306 ng/ml, and seminal plasma fructose 359.6 ± 26.75, 315.6 ± 13.08, and 332.08 ± 24.38 mg/dl in males with varicocele, without varicocele, and fertile males, respectively. A significant high level of testosterone was observed within varicocele group (P = .001). This result showed that testosterone may play a role as an infertility determinant in subjects with varicocele. ASA was detected in 18 (26.47%) of cases with varicocele, 20 (38.46%) without varicocele, and in 16 (32.0%) fertile men. Cases with ASAs associated with low sperm motility morphology. An inverse correlation between sperm-bound antibodies and viscosity has been shown (P = .017). ASA showed some significant inverse relations with ages, durations of infertility, and viscosity (P < .05). In addition, a significant correlation was observed between ASA positive seminal plasma and testosterone concentration among infertile cases (with or without varicocele) and fertile (P < .05). Our results suggest a relationship between testicular steroid hormone levels with autoimmunity and sperm antibodies which influence the motility of ejaculated spermatozoa among Jordanian infertile males.

Assessment of the level of seminal zinc and fructose concentration in seminal plasma of Vietnamese infertile men

“…Seminal fructose correlates positively with spermatozoa DNA fragmentation, 55 and has been found to be both significantly up-and down-regulated in different aetiologies of male infertility. 56,57 In this study, found that seminal fructose level (r=0.47, P<0.05) correlated positively with sperm DNA fragmentation index in group with normozospermia. In group with oligozospermia found negative correlation (r=-0.24, P<0.05) between seminal fructose with sperm DNA fragmentation.…”

Analysis of MYO-Inositol effect on spermatozoa motility, in hyper viscous ejaculates and in patients with grades II and III varicocele

“…Several studies demonstrate that in varicocele, the secretions of impaired sex accessory glands, such as fructose, might have a negative influence on motility of ejaculated spermatozoa (26). Other studies assert that fructose levels in varicocele samples are not significantly different to those of samples without varicocele (27). Steroid hormones, such as testosterone, play a fundamental role not only in sexual differentiation and in expression of secondary sexual characteristics but also, in spermatogenesis.…”

“…This effect is not observed in varicocele samples (33). Jackaman et al (34) and Al-Daghistani et al (27) demonstrate that testosterone levels in samples without varicocele are lower than in samples with varicocele. This feature may indicate severe atrophy of seminiferous tubules, sclerosis and Leydig cells hyperplasia, causing the humoral immune response and then ASA (Anti Sperm Antibodies) production; these latter, as known, are involved in a reduced sperm motility.…”

Incidence of Sperm Surface Autoantibodies and Relationship with Routine Semen Parameters and Sperm Kinematics

“…In particular, a cut‐off value of 50% of motile spermatozoa with ASA was established as clinically relevant . Using these procedures, a 5–39% incidence of sperm surface autoantibodies has been reported in men suspected of infertility …”