Serum leptin correlates in infertile oligozoospermic males

Abstract

Leptin is an adipocyte-secreted protein that participates in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Eighty men were investigated; fertile normozoospermia as a control (n = 30) and infertile oligozoospermia (n = 50). The patients underwent estimation of body weight (kg), height (cm), calculation of body mass index (BMI), semen analysis, serum leptin and testosterone hormones. Mean body weight was significantly higher in infertile oligozoospermia compared with controls. Mean height, BMI and serum testosterone levels showed nonsignificant differences between the two groups. Infertile oligozoospermia had significantly higher mean serum leptin level than controls (mean +/- SD; 6.88 +/- 8.65, 16.3 +/- 13.98 ng ml(-1), P < 0.01). Serum leptin demonstrated significant positive correlation with age, body weight, BMI and significant inverse correlation with serum testosterone. It had nonsignificant correlation with the height and sperm concentration. These results are suggestive of a link between the adipocyte derived hormone, leptin and male reproduction.

Obesity is associated with increased seminal insulin and leptin alongside reduced fertility parameters in a controlled male cohort

“…Raised serum leptin is also associated with sperm function changes in males [35,36]. The serum ranges of leptin in this study generally agree with concentrations found in healthy, obese and infertile male cohorts reported in the literature [35-38]. …”

Semen parameters and hormonal profile in obese fertile and infertile males

“…In the present study, the BMI was positively correlated with serum LH and leptin levels. Several reports showed that the accumulation of fatty tissue in men was associated with decreased total, free T, and increased E 2 serum levels (17,18). Zohdy et al (19) reported significant negative correlation between BMI and serum total T. Zorn et al (20) demonstrated a link between leptin and testicular function, independent of FSH and LH, possibly involving T and SHBG through a regulation of Leydig cell function.…”

Impact of male obesity on infertility: a critical review of the current literature

“…In another study, Hanafy et al (17) divided 80 men presenting at an andrology clinic for evaluation of infertility in their marriage into two groups (fertile normozoospermic and infertile oligospermic) based on their reproductive history and semen analysis. Body weight was higher (84.6 AE 16.3 kg) in the infertile group than in the fertile group (76.6 AE 12.5 kg) (P<.05), but BMI in the infertile group was only slightly higher and not statistically significantly different from that of the fertile group.…”