title: [Relationship of sperm morphology with reproductive hormone levels in infertile men].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship of sperm morphology with reproductive hormones in infertile men and the pathogenesis of teratozoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 90 infertile men aged 25 - 40 years. We measured their testis volumes using the Prader orchidometer, conducted routine semen analyses according to the WHO laboratory standard, and determined the concentrations of reproductive hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) by chemiluminescence and the levels of free testosterone (FT) and bioavailable testosterone (BioT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the subjects showed normal sperm concentration. Based on the results of semen morphology analysis, the 90 infertile men were equally divided into groups 1 (morphologically normal sperm <4%), 2 (morphologically normal sperm > or = 4% and <10%), and 3 (morphologically normal sperm > or = 10%), with no significant differences in age among the three groups (P>0.05). The volumes of the left testis were (14.27 +/- 3.65) ml, (16.90 +/- 3.57) ml and (14.57 +/- 3.57) ml, respectively (P = 0.006 group 1 vs group 2, P = 0.741 group 1 vs group 3, P = 0.014 group 2 vs group 3), and those of the right testis were (14.60 +/- 3.70) ml, (16.60 +/- 3.35) ml and (14.67 +/- 3.54) ml, respectively (P = 0.050). There were no significant differences among the three groups in prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, estradiol, total testosterone and SHBG, (P>0.05). The levels of serum FT were (0.25 +/- 0.07) nmol/L, (0.29 +/- 0.07) nmol/L and (0.31 +/- 0.13) nmol/L (P = 0.086 group 1 vs group 2, P= 0.010 group 1 vs group 3, P= 0.364 group 2 vs group 3), and those of BioT were (5.81 +/- 1.58) nmol/L, (6.78 +/- 1.55) nmol/L and (7.29 +/- 3.02) nmol/L, respectively (P = 0.086 group 1 vs group 2, P = 0.010 group 1 vs group 3, P = 0.364 group 2 vs group 3). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm was positively correlated with the levels of serum FT and BioT (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher the levels of serum FT and BioT, the higher the percentage of morphologically normal sperm, which suggests that serum FT and BioT might be involved in the pathogenesis of teratozoospermia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Beijing University Third Hospital, Beijing 10019, China. tangwenhao9696@sohu.com
authors.forename: Wen-Hao
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Lu-Lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Chi-Sun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lian-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: De-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jia-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ren-Pei
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012661:Semen; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities; D013737:Testis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone