[Detection of melatonin in the serum and seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men].
OBJECTIVE
To detect the concentrations of melatonin(MLT) in the seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.


METHODS
Serum and semen were collected from 18 fertile men aged 26-36 and 99 infertile men aged 23-36, and the latter were divided into five groups: normozoospermia (13 cases), oligozoospermia (27 cases), asthenozoospermia (31 cases), oligoasthenozoospermia (17 cases) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (11 cases). Concentrations of MLT in the serum and seminal plasma of the subjects were detected by ELISA.


RESULTS
Concentrations of MLT in the serum showed no significant difference between the fertile and infertile men, and concentrations of MLT in the seminal plasma were lower than in the serum. Concentrations of MLT in the seminal plasma of the fertile men were not significantly different from those of the infertile men. Concentrations of MLT in the seminal plasma of the oligoasthenozoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men were relatively lower than the fertile men, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
MLT of seminal plasma may have certain effect on sperm function, but it is necessary to further study and clarify its mechanism.
Shang
Xuejun
X
Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. xjshang@ntl-j-androl.com
Ye
Zhangqun
Z
Yu
Xiao
X
Huang
Yufeng
Y
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*
D008550:Melatonin