[Sexual hormone levels in semen and germ cell apoptosis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between sexual hormones in semen and germ cell apoptosis in male population.


METHODS
Sixty-six infertile patients and thirty fertile males were selected randomly. The levels of folicle stimulating hormone ( FSH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in semen were measured by ELISA. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used for the detection of germ cell apoptosis.


RESULTS
The levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T in thirty fertile men were (1.63 +/- 0.15) U/L, (2.18 +/- 0.21) U/L, (6.34 +/- 0.30) nmol/L, (1.85 +/- 0.11) nmol/L, respectively, and germ cell apoptosis rate was (4.61 +/- 1.23)%. FSH, LH, PRL, T levels in infertile group were (1.25 +/- 0.18) U/L, (1.76 +/- 0.32) U/L, (5.86 +/- 0.13) nmol/l, (1.45 +/- 0.13) nmol/, respectively, and germ cell apoptosis rate was (18.36 +/- 2.04)%. There were significant differences in all parameters between infertile group and fertile group. The levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T were negatively correlated with germ cell apoptosis rates( r = -0.88, -0.93, -0.90, -0.98). The volume of apoptotic germ cell decreased, and chromatin was compacted to form cell-membrane blebs and apoptotic bodies.


CONCLUSIONS
Low concentration of sexual hormones may increase the apoptosis of germ cells, which can induce male infertility.
Yang
Mai-Gui
MG
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China. YangMg@fmmu.edu.cn
Yang
Yang
Y
Huang
Ping
P
Hao
Xiao-Ke
XK
Zhang
Zhu-Ying
ZY
Zheng
Shan-Luan
SL
Fan
Ai-Lin
AL
Rao
Guo-Zhou
GZ
Wei
Xiao-Ming
XM
D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone