Human chorionic gonadotropin free β-subunit in the human seminal plasma: a new marker for spermatogenesis?

Abstract

In the past 20 years, several factors were detected in the human seminal plasma and proposed as markers for spermatogenesis. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and its β-subunit were therefore investigated, and their seminal levels were found to be higher than those detected in the serum and to correlate with sperm parameters. Objective: We designed a retrospective study to determine the suitability of hCG free β-subunit concentration in the seminal plasma of fertile and infertile male patients as marker of spermatogenesis. Study design: A total of 79 infertile male patients were divided into four groups by their semen analysis results (group 1 [ n=8]: azoospermia; group 2 [ n=21]: severe oligozoospermia; group 3 [ n=40]: oligoasthenospermia (OAS); group 4 [ n=10]: asthenospermia) and 10 healthy volunteers of proven fertility were evaluated. Results: The hCG free β-subunit levels in the seminal plasma were found to be significantly higher ( P<0.0001) in the control group in respect to those assayed in the infertile patients and showed a correlation with sperm count ( r=0.5) and total motile sperm density ( r=0.5). Twenty-five patients were on treatment with oral Mesterolone (100 mg daily) plus Tamoxifen (20 mg daily) for 3–6 months. Apart from a significant improvement ( P<0.05) in sperm morphology, no significant changes in sperm count and motility were observed after the treatment in all the patients. In the seminal plasma of 10 patients who showed a significant increase in sperm count, hCG free β-subunit levels were found to be significantly higher compared to those detected in the remaining patients ( P<0.01). In all patients, these levels remained unchanged after the treatment. Conclusions: The evidence regarding the positive correlation between hCG free β-subunit levels in the seminal plasma and sperm concentration is consistent with the previous results regarding hCG levels. A previous study demonstrated that testosterone levels in seminal plasma correlated with sperm concentrations; from the same evidence regarding hCG we hypothesize that seminal plasma testosterone and hCG levels are correlated. Thus, hCG may play a paracrine role in the intratesticular regulation of testosterone secretion.