Relationship between gonadotrophin secretion, inhibin B and spermatogenesis in oligozoospermic men treated with highly purified urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (uFSH-HP): a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To study the potential relationship between circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) gonadotrophin, inhibin B, spermatogenesis and the benefit of highly purified urinary FSH (uFSH-HP) treatment in men with oligozoospermia.


METHODS
Twenty-nine normogonadotropic, normogonadal men with oligozoospermia were evaluated. Serum hormonal concentration and spermiogram were analyzed before and after 3-month treatment with uFSH-HP.


RESULTS
Our results support the hypothesis that inhibin B is involved in the physiological regulation of FSH secretion and reflects the FSH-stimulated Sertoli cell function. After treating with uFSH-HP for 3 months a significant increase in all semen parameters was observed in most of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the benefit of inhibin B as a prognosis factor in oligozoospermic patients treated with FSH is not defined, it can be considered as an important serum marker in reproductive and testicular functions. Treatment of oligozoospermic patients with uFSH-HP has shown to be an effective and safe therapy.
Fernández-Arjona
M
M
Department of Urology, Hospital "Santa Barbara", (Ciudad Real), Puertollano, Spain. mfvd@eresmas.com
Díaz
J
J
Cortes
I
I
González
J
J
Rodriguez
J M
JM
Alvarez
E
E
D000328:Adult; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone