Human chorionic gonadotropin free beta-subunit in the human seminal plasma: a new marker for spermatogenesis?
In the past 20 years, several factors were detected in the human seminal plasma and proposed as markers for spermatogenesis. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and its beta-subunit were therefore investigated, and their seminal levels were found to be higher than those detected in the serum and to correlate with sperm parameters.


OBJECTIVE
We designed a retrospective study to determine the suitability of hCG free beta-subunit concentration in the seminal plasma of fertile and infertile male patients as marker of spermatogenesis.


METHODS
A total of 79 infertile male patients were divided into four groups by their semen analysis results (group 1 [n=8]: azoospermia; group 2 [n=21]: severe oligozoospermia; group 3 [n=40]: oligoasthenospermia (OAS); group 4 [n=10]: asthenospermia) and 10 healthy volunteers of proven fertility were evaluated.


RESULTS
The hCG free beta-subunit levels in the seminal plasma were found to be significantly higher (P<0.0001) in the control group in respect to those assayed in the infertile patients and showed a correlation with sperm count (r=0.5) and total motile sperm density (r=0.5). Twenty-five patients were on treatment with oral Mesterolone (100mg daily) plus Tamoxifen (20mg daily) for 3-6 months. Apart from a significant improvement (P<0.05) in sperm morphology, no significant changes in sperm count and motility were observed after the treatment in all the patients. In the seminal plasma of 10 patients who showed a significant increase in sperm count, hCG free beta-subunit levels were found to be significantly higher compared to those detected in the remaining patients (P<0.01). In all patients, these levels remained unchanged after the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence regarding the positive correlation between hCG free beta-subunit levels in the seminal plasma and sperm concentration is consistent with the previous results regarding hCG levels. A previous study demonstrated that testosterone levels in seminal plasma correlated with sperm concentrations; from the same evidence regarding hCG we hypothesize that seminal plasma testosterone and hCG levels are correlated. Thus, hCG may play a paracrine role in the intratesticular regulation of testosterone secretion.
Caroppo
E
E
Operative Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS "S. De Bellis", Via della Resistenza, 70013 Grotte Castellana (Ba), Italy. ecaroppo@teseo.it
Niederberger
C
C
Iacovazzi
P A
PA
Correale
M
M
Palagiano
A
A
D'Amato
G
G
D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008655:Mesterolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen; D008655:Mesterolone