Seminal plasma inhibin-B level is a useful predictor of the success of conventional testicular sperm extraction in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
The value of serum inhibin-B as a predictor of the presence of testicular spermatozoa is still controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of the seminal plasma inhibin-B level, which might more directly reflect the secretion by Sertoli cells, and to discriminate between successful and failed testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in non-obstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
Sixty-two patients with non-obstructive azoospermia were examined at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Niigata University Hospital, Niigata, Japan. The level of inhibin-B was measured using a two-site enzyme-linked immunoassay.


RESULTS
Testicular sperm were successfully retrieved in 17 of 62 patients (27.4%). The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were significantly lower and the serum and seminal inhibin-B concentrations were significantly higher in the successful TESE group compared with the failed TESE group. According to the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, the best discriminating seminal plasma inhibin-B level was 27.0 pg/mL (sensitivity 88.2%, specificity 93.3%). The best discriminating serum inhibin-B level was 34.0 pg/mL (sensitivity 70.6%, specificity 95.6%). The area under the ROC curve for seminal plasma inhibin-B was significantly larger than that for FSH and testicular volume. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, only seminal plasma inhibin-B was an independent predictor of the presence of spermatozoa on TESE.


CONCLUSIONS
Seminal plasma inhibin-B level is a useful predictor of the presence of testicular sperm in men with non-obstructive azoospermia.
Nagata
Yuko
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.
Fujita
Kazuyuki
K
Banzai
Junichi
J
Kojima
Yumi
Y
Kasima
Katsunori
K
Suzuki
Mina
M
Tanaka
Kenichi
K
D000328:Adult; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism
C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone