Procalcitonin: does it play a role in male reproduction?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence or absence of procalcitonin in the seminal plasma of both normal and subfertile men.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Academic research environment.


METHODS
Healthy male volunteers and subfertile men with varicocele or infection of the male accessory glands.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Seminal plasma procalcitonin determinations.


RESULTS
Seminal plasma procalcitonin levels from subfertile men were not significantly different from those found in healthy volunteers.


CONCLUSIONS
Although procalcitonin can be detected in the seminal plasma, these preliminary results indicate that it cannot be used as a diagnostic marker.
Slavakis
A
A
Division of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Microbiology, Ippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. typecent@otenet.gr
Papadimas
J
J
D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism; D014646:Varicocele / Q000378:metabolism
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide