Insulin-like Peptide-6 Levels in Non-obstructive Azoospermia.

Abstract

To investigate the serum versus insulin-like peptide-6 (INSL-6) levels in men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and normospermia. Descriptive study. Department of Urology, Balikligol State Hospital and Harran University, Sanliurfa, Turkey, between July and October 2020. The serum and seminal levels of INSL-6 were measured in men with NOA, and normospermia using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Age, body mass index (BMI), hormone profile, testicular volumes and seminal and serum INSL-6 levels were compared between the study groups. In total, 80 men were included in the study, 40 of whom have NOA and 40 have normospermia. No significant difference was found in the mean age and BMI between the groups (p >0.05). Seminal INSL-6 levels were higher in the normospermia group, although serum and seminal INSL-6 levels were not significantly different in this group (p >0.05). No significant correlation was observed between serum INSL-6 levels and age, BMI,testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and varicocele presence (p >0.05). No significant association was found between seminal INSL-6 levels and age, BMI, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels (p >0.05). However, a significant negative association observed between seminal INSL-6 levels and testicular volume (p <0.05). The seminal INSL-6 levels were approximately 5.5 times higher than the serum INSL-6 levels and survival level of INSL-6 were higher in the normospermia. This suggests that INSL-6 plays an active role in the male reproductive system. However, the mechanism and extent of this effect remain to be elucidated. Infertility, Non-obstructive azoospermia, Insulin-like peptide-6.