title: Detection of erythropoietin in human seminal plasma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the presence of erythropoietin (EPO) in ejaculates and the association between EPO levels in seminal plasma and semen parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-three infertile males and 16 volunteers with proven fertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen was obtained by masturbation after 5 days of abstinence. Blood sample and split ejaculates of 16 volunteers with proven fertility were collected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunoassay in the seminal plasma and sperm parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Western blot analysis showed that EPO protein was present in the seminal plasma. The EPO titers in the seminal plasma ranged from 1.5 mIU/mL to 45.0 mIU/mL by enzyme-linked immunoassay. There was no significant association between EPO levels and semen parameters. The first fraction of samples obtained by split ejaculation contained almost the same amount of EPO as the second fraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythropoietin protein was constitutively present in seminal plasma. The seminal EPO originated from the prostate and seminal vesicle. No association between EPO levels in seminal plasma and sperm parameters was found in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Temma
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimoya
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murata
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin