title: Prostate specific antigen is detectable in formalin-fixed semen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a pilot study to test whether or not prostate specific antigen (PSA) and/or PSA-positive cells can be detected and characterized in semen specimens archived in aldehyde fixative.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens from 12 men were examined, six before elective vasectomy and six undergoing infertility evaluation. Fixed semen elements were assessed immunocytologically using monoclonal antibodies against PSA and leucocyte common antigen, CD 45, as a control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PSA was detectable in the semen from the fertile men as amorphous protein and contained within round vesicles (prostasomes). Semen from men undergoing infertility evaluation contained a greater variation in detectable forms and amount of PSA than the specimens from the fertile men, including PSA associated with some nonspermatozoal cells (NSCs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSA is detectable by immunocytological analysis of semen specimens archived in aldehyde-based fixative. Three forms of PSA were detected; within round vesicles characteristic of prostasomes, associated with some NSCs, and as amorphous protein. The detected variations suggest that analysis of PSA-positive semen elements may provide important insights into prostate physiology.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Division of Urology, Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Eyre
authors.forename: H Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kiessling
mesh_terms: D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005557:Formaldehyde; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen