title: [Sexual hormone levels in semen and germ cell apoptosis].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China. YangMg@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Mai-Gui
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ke
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Zhu-Ying
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shan-Luan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ai-Lin
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Guo-Zhou
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone