Serum and seminal plasma ghrelin levels in men with normospermia and dyspermia.
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.
Panidis
Dimitrios
D
Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Goulis
Dimitrios G
DG
Katsikis
Ilias
I
Koliakos
George
G
Georgopoulos
Neoklis A
NA
Diamanti-Kandarakis
Evanthia
E
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
D054439:Ghrelin; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone