Relationship between substances in seminal plasma and Acrobeads Test results.
OBJECTIVE
To asses the effects of seminal plasma on sperm function.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
One hundred fourteen infertile men.


METHODS
Acrobeads Test scores (0-4) and measurement of interleukin (IL)-6, soluble IL-6 receptor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), transforming growth factor-beta I, superoxide dismutase, calcitonin, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels in seminal plasma.


METHODS
Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the concentrations of substances as a nonparametric test for differences among Acrobeads Test scores and a multivariable logistic regression model to find independent risk factors associated with abnormal Acrobeads Test results.


RESULTS
The Acrobeads Test score was 0 for 7 samples, 1 for 20 samples, 2 for 18 samples, 3 for 28 samples, and 4 for 41 samples. Age, abstinence period, and semen parameters, except for sperm motility and percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology, had no effect on the Acrobeads Test results. Concentrations of IGF-I and MIF were significantly higher in patients with abnormal Acrobeads Test results. Multivariate analysis indicated that MIF and IGF-I were significantly associated with abnormal Acrobeads Test results (scores 0 to 1).


CONCLUSIONS
Although further studies are needed, IGF-I and MIF in seminal plasma may have negative effects on sperm function.
Komori
Kazuhiko
K
Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Tsujimura
Akira
A
Okamoto
Yoshio
Y
Matsuoka
Yasuhiro
Y
Takao
Tetsuya
T
Miyagawa
Yasushi
Y
Takada
Shingo
S
Nonomura
Norio
N
Okuyama
Akihiko
A
D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004542:Ejaculation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology; D012661:Semen / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology
D015850:Interleukin-6; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D002116:Calcitonin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase