Showing papers on "Semen analysis published in 1976"

Endocrine effects of vasectomy.

Abstract: In order to provide information on the endocrine effects of vasectomy, unconjugated pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, oestrone and oestradiol were analysed in the blood plasma of twenty Mexican men on two occasions before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after vasectomy. Vasectomy appeared to be associated with a significant decrease in the plasma levels of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione and a significant increase in the levels of dihydrotestosterone and oestrone. A probably significant increase in oestradiol levels took place 12 months after vasectomy but not before. No consistent changes were found in testosterone (up to 12 months) or in FSH and LH levels (up to 6 months) after vasectomy. The unconjugated steroids indicated above, except oestrone, were also estimated, whenever possible, in seminal plasma specimens obtained from thirty-nine subjects (including the twenty indicated above) on the same occasions. Vasectomy was associated with a highly significant decrease of seminal plasma dihydrotestosterone levels on all occasions and a significant decrease in androstenedione levels after 6 and 12 months. After 12 months there was a decrease in dehydroepiandrosterone and an increase in oestradiol; these changes were both probably significant. In another preliminary study, the levels of pregnenolone sulphate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, testosterone glucuronide, testosterone sulphate and dihydrotestosterone sulphate were estimated before and 1 month after vasectomy in the seminal plasma of fourteen to seventeen subjects. Testosterone glucuronide fell, probably significantly, but other conjugates were unchanged. The data indicate that vasectomy may be associated with significant changes in the circulating and in seminal plasma levels of several steroids. The gradual nature of some of the changes observed suggests the necessity of conducting in several centres large-scale, long-term studies on vasectomized subjects and on a carefully matched control group. During the last decade vasectomy has been widely practised in several parts of the world as a method of fertility control. However, information on the endocrine effects of this intervention appears to be scanty. In most of the human studies reported, a small number of individuals were investigated and the studies have been confined to the assessment of the short-term effects of the operation. Moreover, the hormonal indices assessed by the various investigators have been limited, in most cases, to gonadotrophins and testosterone in blood. The present study was designed to assess in the same subjects the levels of a number of unconjugated steroids, FSH and LH on two occasions before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after vasectomy. The studies were extended to include steroid analyses in seminal plasma in the hope that such assays might yield information as to the effects of vasectomy on the distribution of steroids in the fluids of the male reproductive tract.

Zinc as a possible causal factor in the sterilizing sperm tail defect, the 'Dag-defect', in Jersey bulls.

Abstract: The zinc content was determined in semen samples from four young Danish Jersey bulls showing the typical 'Dag defect' (greater than 50% strongly coiled or bent sperm tails). Two of the bulls were half brothers. Semen samples from 14 normal fertile Jersey bulls served as controls. The normal material showed a zinc content in the centrifuged sperm of 190 +/- 15.8 mug/g d.w. and in the seminal plasma 81 +/- 31.2 mug/g d.w. In the four abnormal bulls the following elevated values were found: in the centrifuged sperm 310 +/- 109.5 mug/g d.w. and in the seminal plasma 137 +/- 75.2 mug/g d.w. (see figs. 1 and 2). One of the Dag defect's main localizations, the outer dense tail fibers, has a very high zinc content and this fact together with the heredity of the defect make further studies most promising.

Return of fertility in a patient with cyclophosphamide-induced azoospermia.

Abstract: A 30-year-old white male received cyclophosphamide for the treatment of lymphosarcoma and semen analysis revealed azoospermia 1 year later. However 2 1/2 years later his wife conceived and gave birth to a healthy male infant at term. Immunogenetic typing revealed the probability of the patients nonpaternity to be 1 in 200. Patients depending on alkylating agents for contraception should be warned that fertility may return.

Determinantion of testosterone concentration in semen of men with normal or subnormal sperm counts and after vasectomy.

Abstract: Semen from 58 male subjects, aged 22 to 50, was assayed on an individual basis to determine whether T was present in it. Of the subjects examined 23 were normospermic, 14 oligospermic and 9 azoospermic; 12 men had undergone vasectomy were also included in the study. In 39 of the subjects plasma testosterone was estimated. A competitive protein binding technique was employed for T assays while dried extracts of semen were examined by combined gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry and mass fragmentography. Measurable amounts of T were detected in all seminal specimens assayed. This was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry which showed a spectrum suggestive of T. The ratio of unconjugated to conjugated steroid in semen was found to be approximately 1:10. Levels of unconjgated T were similar to those found in plasma of normally menstruating women. The mean seminal concentration of unconjugated T (+/-SD) in the specimens assayed was 0.71 ng/ml+/-0.08 for the normospermic, 0.79+/-0.14 for the ezoospermic, 0.69+/-0.09 for the oligospermic, but only 0.38+/-0.04 for the vasectomized subjects. Plasma levels for this androgen were within the range found in normal men of comparable age. Significant correlation between plasma and seminal T concentration could not be demonstrated and there was no correlation between either of the above parameters and the seminal volume, the number, abnormal form percentage and the motility of spermatozooa in the normo--or oligospermic group. However, when the two groups were pooled into one, significant correlations were found between plasma, (but not seminal T concentration) and the seminal characters examined, perhaps suggesting the number of specimens from the groups should be increased to obtain valid data. Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin produced a marked plasma response as well as a rise of seminal T levels in 3 normospermic subjects whereas cyproterone acetate caused reduction of plasm T levels but had no consistent effect on the seminal concentration of ts steroid although the sensitivity of the seminal method may not have detected smaller changes at this level.

Vitamin B12 and potential fertility in male lactovegetarians.

Abstract: Semen and serum vitamin B12 levels in Indian lactovegetarian and non-vegetarian subjects were estimated along with routine semen examination. Lactovegetarians had distinctly lower serum and semen vitamin B12 levels than the non-vegetarians. However, in normal and oligospermic subjects the ratio of semen vitamin B12 to serum vitamin B12 in the various diet groups was not significantly different and was always greater than one. In azoospermic subjects the serum vitamin B12 levels were always higher than the corresponding semen vitamin B12 values. Although semen vitamin B12 content was related to serum vitamin B12 level and sperm concentration in the normal and oligospermic groups. Further, in healthy lactovegetarians with low serum and semen vitamin B12 content and oligospermia, treatment with hydroxocobalamin produced no significant improvement in semen quality.

Disappearance of spermatozoa from semen after vasectomy.

Abstract: Of 1200 individuals vasectomized only 450 later had their semen tested for spermatozoa. Information on the number of seminal ejaculations after the operation was obtained from 254 persons. The semen analysis was done only once in 317 cases twice in 97 cases and 3 or more times in 36 cases. 375 of the 450 cases were sperm-free when the last test was done. Only 23 (5%) had spermatozoa 3 months after the operation. 3 (.7%) of these had 15-40 million spermatozoa/ml of semen with more than 60% motility 6 months after vasectomy. These patients required reoperation. Result indicated that contraceptive precautions are often needed for 3 months of after 15 ejaculations following the vasectomy. Semen tests should be done to confirm absence of spermatozoa.

Protein content of human seminal plasma and spermatozoa in relation to sperm counts.

Abstract: Protein concentrations of seminal plasma and spermatozoa were estimated in human normospermic, oligospermic and azoospermic semens. The protein content of seminal plasma ranged from 20 to 60 mg per ml semen and was found to be unrelated to sperm counts. Suspended sediments of azoospermic specimens were found to contain on the average 570+/-86 microng protein per ml semen. This value is about four times higher than in severe oligospermic specimens (0.2 X 10(6) -6.5 X 10(6) cells per ml semen). It is suggested that in azoospermic disorders seminiferous tubules secrete abnormally high amounts of proteinacous material which cannot be eliminated by washings. In addition, destruction of immature cells may contribute to increased protein conten in these specimens. Protein determinations in washed spermatozoa showed a negative relationship between the amount of protein calculated per 10(6) cells and original sperm counts. This trend demonstrates an altered protein metabolism in the spermatozoa of oligospermic specimens which might be responsible for fertility incompetence.

Cholesterol and ascorbic acid in semen under varied clinical conditions.

Abstract: Fresh semen samples were collected from a total of 269 individuals attending the Family Welfare Planning Clinic. 29 had azoospermia following vasectomy 12 had azoospermia due to spermatogenic defect and the remainder had varying grades of sperm density and motility. Physical and morphological evaluations of the semen samples were made. Ascorbic acid was estimated in whole semen by the method of Roe an Kuether. Total cholesterol in plasma was determined. The total cholesterol concentration showed a gradual decline in the group with sperm count of 1-20 million/ml to the lowest level in the group with a count of 61-80 million. It then increased progressively up to the counts of 101-120 million/ml. Ascorbic acid concentration was significantly higher in patients with azoospermia due to defective spermatogenesis. The azoospermic specimens of vasectomized individuals contained significantly higher level of ascorbic acid than in dysspermatogenic azoospermia. The percentages of motile sperm in samples were unrelated to either cholesterol or ascorbic acid concentrations.