title: Determination of various semen parameters and sex hormone levels in subfertile men during kallikrein therapy.
abstract: Thirty-one (31) subfertile men with idiopathic iligozoospermia were treated by a daily oral medication of 600 units of pancreatic kallikrein (Padutin(R) 100) over a period of 3 months. Total sperm output increased significantly with a maximum 3 months after initiation of therapy. In addition, quantitative and qualitative sperm motility improved during treatment and was still improved 2 months after withdrawal of therapy. Compared to other regimens, oral administration of 600 units kallikrein for a period of 3 months yielded better results than shorter medication periods or lower dosage. Quantitative determination of several serum proteins occurring in seminal plasma before, during and after kallikrein therapy showed a significant increase of alpha 1, x-antichymotrypsin. Thus, kallikrein treatment seems to affect, to a certain degree, the secretory activity of the accessory glands or the blood-seminal plasma barrier. Determination of serum gonadotropins and serum testosterone levels showed a significant increase of LH and testosterone during kallikrein treatment, whereas FSH was unaffected. Thus, systemic kallikrein administration induces significant changes of the pituitary-gonadal axis influencing spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm maturation. However, the local action of kinins as pharmacological active tissue hormones has to be considered too.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014168:Transferrin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D007610:Kallikreins