Normwerte von radioimmunologisch bestimmten FSH- und LH im Seminalplasma

Seminal plasma hormone profile in infertile men with and without varicocele

Seminal plasma FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, and oestradiol were estimated in 41 infertile men with varicocele and 45 infertile men without varicocele who failed to impregnate their wives after 2 years of marriage and 30 fertile men. There was significant elevation of FSH in the seminal plasma of the infertile men with varicocele compared with the seminal plasma of the other infertile and fertile men. Seminal LH and prolactin values were similar in both infertile groups but significantly higher than in the fertile men. Testosterone and oestradiol levels in the seminal plasma of infertile men with varicocele were lower than in the fertile and the other infertile males. Finding that both steroids were decreased in infertile men with varicocele could explain disturbed function of spermatozoa in men with varicocele. Further analysis will elucidate the importance of these hormone findings in the seminal plasma of infertile men with varicocele.

Na-tartrate in the treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis

In an open investigation 20 patients with a history of chronic abacterial prostatitis (24 month duration) and of multiple therapies were treated by 0.07-0.15/kg Na-tartrate. Na-tartrate, a known inhibitor of the prostatic fraction of acid phosphatase in laboratory studies, was given orally for 12 weeks after dissolution in fluids and well tolerated. 13 patients completed the study and 3 spermiograms at 6 weeks interval were performed. 11/13 patients demonstrated increased sperm count (44.5 +/- 26.4 leads to 55.06 +/- 34.7) elevated seminal prostatic phosphatase (727 +/- 114.7 leads to 810.8 +/- 55.7) and improved seminal testosterone (2.86 +/- 1.6 leads to 4 +/- 1.4) while seminal y-GT was not significantly changed. Polyamine excretion showed a distinct elevation for putrescine 17.7 +/- 5.3 leads to 28.5 +/- 6.8. Clinically the 11 from 13 patients presented with marked improvement in a 4 months follow-up.

The effect of alpha-difluromethylornithine and tartaric acid on sperm count, seminal gamma GT, FSH, LH, testosterone and steroid excretion in patients with chronic prostatitis

The inactivation of ornithine decarboxylase, a polyamine biosynthetic enzyme, by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (alpha-DFMO) was studied in patients with chronic non-suppurative prostatitis. Partial clinical response and remission of gross hematospermia were observed after 18 g/day alpha-DFMO, when administered orally for 1 month. The determination of gamma-glutamyltransferase, LH, Testosterone in semen and also of sperm motility and vitality appeared distinctly changed in alpha-DFMO treated patients, indicating a significant effect on the activity of the prostate. -- A 16% decrease of hematocrit and hemoglobin in 2 out of 10 patients was reversible 2 months after stopping the therapy. The placebo, which was identified mainly as tartaric acid after termination of the study showed similar clinical response and change of seminal parameters. The modulation of sperm count, seminal gamma GT, LH and testosterone was correlated to the known inhibition of prostatic acid phosphatase by tartaric acid in vitro.