title: Presence of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human semen: evidence of correlation with semen characteristics.
abstract: 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD), the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of biologically active glucocorticoids to their inactive metabolites, was shown to be located exclusively in Leydig cells of the rat testis, and its appearance was associated with the developmental rise in testosterone. Thus, 11 beta-HSD was suggested to play an important role in maintaining steroidogenesis by inactivating excess cortisol that inhibits testosterone production. Whether equivalent protection from glucocorticoids excess is necessary for spermatogenesis is not known, and we have, accordingly, investigated the 11 beta-HSD activity in ejaculated human semen. Both 11 beta-dehydrogenase (11 beta-DH) and 11 beta-oxoreductase (11-OR) activities of 11 beta-HSD were measurable in semen, although seminal plasma was devoid of 11 beta-HSD activity. Azoospermic specimens were associated with low 11 beta-dehydrogenase activity, indicating the presence of enzyme activity in cells other than spermatozoa. Pure spermatozoa separated on percoll gradient could oxidize corticosterone in the presence of NAD or NADP. Significantly higher 11 beta-DH activity is associated with semen specimens with low sperm count (p < .05) and higher level of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (p < .05). The presence of 11 beta-HSD in human semen and its association with sperm characteristics thus suggests functional role for glucocorticoid exclusion in the sperm maturation process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SUNY Health Science Center 11203-2098, USA.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Nacharaju
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muneyyirci-Delale
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009243:NAD / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009249:NADP / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000201:enzymology; D012661:Semen / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D009243:NAD; D009249:NADP; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C003552:11-dehydrocorticosterone; D002229:Carbenoxolone; D003345:Corticosterone