title: Human chorionic gonadotropin free beta-subunit in the human seminal plasma: a new marker for spermatogenesis?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS "S. De Bellis", Via della Resistenza, 70013 Grotte Castellana (Ba), Italy. ecaroppo@teseo.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caroppo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niederberger
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Iacovazzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Correale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palagiano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Amato
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen; D008655:Mesterolone