title: Semen characteristics and diabetes mellitus: significance of insulin in male infertility.
abstract: A study was made of semen quality and serum hormonal profiles (FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone) of patients with type I diabetes mellitus. Semen parameters and levels of prolactin and testosterone were significantly altered in the diabetic state. The concentration of insulin in serum and seminal plasma and the serum levels of FSH, LH, and testosterone were measured in 80 men classified in the following groups: fertile subjects, infertile normoglycemic subjects, subjects with carbohydrate intolerance, and excretory and secretory azoospermic subjects. In all groups, seminal insulin concentrations were higher than those obtained in serum. The hormone appears to freely cross the blood-testis barrier, there to be concentrated in the semen. The levels of insulin in serum and seminal plasma did not correlate with semen parameters and are not suitable markers of seminal quality. For unknown reasons, the concentrations of insulin in seminal plasma were lower in the subjects suffering from carbohydrate intolerance.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinologia, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: García-Díez
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Corrales Hernandez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Diaz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pedraz
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miralles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone