Measurement of testosterone in seminal plasma, saliva and serum by solid-phase enzymeimmunoassay

Fluorimetric method for simultaneous estimation of cortisol, corticosterone, and testosterone in plasma

The simultaneous estimation of steroids in plasma was carried out by the assay of cortisol, corticosterone, and testosterone. The method entails separation by means of thin layer chromatography, followed by conversion to a fluorophore and fluorimetric measurement. Its major advantages are its high specificity, its ability to detect unknown substances, and the ease with which it can be performed. The method has acceptable levels of accuracy and precision and the normal values obtained by it compare well with those given by methods in general use.

Seminal prolactin and its relationship to sperm motility in men

Semen assessment and levels of serum and seminal plasma prolactin (PRL) were determined in 81 men. In subjects with both normal sperm concentrations and normal sperm motility, the levels of serum and seminal plasma PRL were 14.7 +/- 1.48 and 10.0 +/- 1.05 ng/ml (mean +/- standard error of the mean, SEM, P less than 0.05), respectively. This difference is not observed either in subjects with polyzoospermia with normal sperm motility, or in those with oligozoospermia. Serum PRL was higher in azoospermia and also in subjects with lower levels of seminal citric acid. Seminal plasma PRL was directly related to sperm motility (r = 0.70, P less than 0.01) and inversely related to sperm concentration (r = -0.42 P less than 0.05). Seminal PRL was increased in subjects with higher levels of seminal citric acid and decreased in subjects with lower levels of corrected seminal fructose. Serum and seminal plasma PRL did not change significantly in subjects with different concentrations of serum testosterone.

Corrected seminal fructose levels: index of secretory activity of seminal vesicles

Seminal fructose, sperm count, and sperm motility were measured in 340 men attending an infertility clinic. Seminal fructose correlates negatively with sperm count but not with sperm motility. The best correlation between sperm count and seminal fructose was obtained using the logarithm (log) of sperm count. When seminal fructose was multiplied by the log of sperm count obtaining a value named "corrected fructose," the correlation with sperm count disappeared, and there was positive correlation between corrected seminal fructose and sperm motility. Therefore, corrected seminal fructose level was significantly lower in asthenospermic than in normomotile subjects, irrespective of the sperm count. Corrected seminal fructose, but not seminal fructose levels, was lowered in subjects with either low levels of serum testosterone (less than 3 ng/ml) or evidence of an obstructive process in the reproductive tract. In both situations sperm motility was also reduced. The corrected fructose level was not affected by the presence of varicocele, hyperprolactinemia, or hyperserotoninemia. Measurement of corrected seminal fructose rather than seminal fructose may be a useful marker of the secretory activity of the seminal vesicles.