title: Human chorionic gonadotrophin in human seminal plasma as shown with assays using monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) has been estimated in 79 samples of human seminal plasma using three different methods. The Serono "ter" double antibody-polyethylene glycol "hCG-beta" radioimmunoassay, which uses a polyclonal antibody and estimates intact HCG plus free beta-subunit, gave concentrations of 37 +/- 21 (18-112) mIU/ml 1st IRP 75/537 (n = 46). Concentrations were much less with assays that utilised monoclonal antisera. The Pharmacia-LKB "DELFIA" fluoroimmunoassay, which estimates intact hCG only, failed to detect hCG in 16/76 (21%) of samples and detected only a trace (less than 2 mIU/ml) in 32 samples, but was able to estimate authentic hCG in 28 samples, the highest concentration being 25 mIU/ml. The proportion monoclonal/polyclonal hCG in these samples was highly variable at 4-122 (mean 37) %. The. Medgenix oligo-monoclonal immunoradiometric assay, which estimates intact hCG plus free beta-subunit more specifically, gave even lower concentrations. It failed to detect hCG in 6/54 (11%) of samples and detected only a trace in 27 samples, but was able to estimate hCG in 21 samples, the highest concentration being 20 mIU/ml. The proportion of monoclonal/polyclonal hCG in no case exceeded 0.2%. It is concluded that authentic hCG does occur in human seminal plasma, but only in about a third of samples. The origin of this hCG is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecological Endocrinology, Free University, West Berlin/Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brotherton
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012661:Semen / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic