title: A relationship between sperm count and intracellular progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and cortisol concentrations in human spermatozoa.
abstract: In an attempt to determine whether human spermatozoa contain steroid hormones, in this study we have measured the immunoreactive levels of P, 17 alpha-OHP, and F in the extracts of sonicated specimens of sperms obtained as ejaculates from husbands of infertile couples. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that human spermatozoa contain definite amounts of the measured steroids and suggests an association between steroid levels and sperm count. These steroids identified intracellularly in the haploid germ cells may play a role in the molecular events associated with fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loganath
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunasegaram
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Peh
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shanmugaratnam
mesh_terms: D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011374:Progesterone; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone