title: Serum and seminal plasma ghrelin levels in men with normospermia and dyspermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the existence of ghrelin in seminal plasma and the levels of serum ghrelin in men with normospermia and dyspermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-eight men were classified into three groups: Group 1, men with normospermia and proven fertility (n = 26); Group 2, men with idiopathic oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (n = 62); and Group 3, men with idiopathic azoospermia (n = 10). Spermiograms and determination of ghrelin in serum and seminal plasma were performed in all men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ghrelin was present in the seminal plasma of men from all groups at a concentration of 27%, 18% and 30% of the corresponding serum levels (mean +/- standard error: Group 1, 127.7 +/- 14.7 vs. 468.3 +/- 35.5 pmol/l, p = 0.003; Group 2, 117.0 +/- 10.1 vs. 637.0 +/- 29.3 pmol/l, p < 0.001; Group 3, 166.2 +/- 32.5 vs. 557.7 +/- 25.4 pmol/l, p = 0.068). When Group 1 men were compared with men from Groups 2 and 3 combined, there were no significant differences in serum (mean +/- standard error: 468.3 +/- 35.5 vs. 628.0 +/- 26.4 pmol/l, p = not significant) or seminal plasma ghrelin (mean +/- standard error: 127.7 +/- 14.7 vs. 123.9 +/- 9.9 pmol/l, p = not significant). In the total group of studied men (Groups 1 to 3), serum ghrelin was positively correlated with semen volume (r = 0.309, p = 0.037), whereas seminal plasma ghrelin was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.268, p = 0.008) and semen volume (r = -0.385, p < 0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ghrelin is present in human seminal plasma at lower levels than in serum. There is no difference in seminal plasma ghrelin levels between men with normospermia and dyspermia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panidis
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Goulis
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katsikis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koliakos
authors.forename: Neoklis A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Georgopoulos
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diamanti-Kandarakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone