A survey of the concentration of 19-OH F1 alpha/F2 alpha prostaglandins in the semen of fertile, infertile and vasectomized men and their stability in both liquid semen and semen stains.
The levels of 19-hydroxy-prostaglandins F1 alpha/F2 alpha (PG F) in the semen of 19 vasectomized, 44 infertile and 8 fertile men were determined using a simple RIA technique. The mean concentrations observed in this survey were 45 micrograms/ml, 49.5 micrograms/ml and 59 micrograms/ml, respectively. No significant difference was recorded between the vasectomized and infertile groups; there were too few fertile samples available to undertake a meaningful statistical comparison. No reduction was observed in the levels of this PG in a liquid semen sample retained at room temperature over a 4 week period in the presence of a bacteriostat (sodium azide). However, a 30% reduction in the levels of 19-OH PG F occurred over the same time period when aliquots of the same semen sample were retained at either room temperature or at 4 degrees C without azide. Finally, no reduction was observed in the concentration of 19-OH PG F in a series of 10-microliters semen stains stored over a period of 6 weeks at room temperature.
King
S J
SJ
Central Research Establishment, Home Office Forensic Science Service, Reading, Berkshire, U.K.
Sutton
J G
JG
D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014659:Vasectomy
C025183:19-hydroxyprostaglandin F; D015237:Dinoprost