J Korean Androl Soc.  1997 Dec;15(2):111-115.

Transferrin and Epidermal Growth Factor in Human Seminal Plasma

• Lee SK
• Lee HS
• In R
• Cho JS

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transferrin were measured in the seminal plasma of 71 men with oligospermia seminal duct obstruction, or no known urologic ailment (control). The oligospermic group (sperm count of <20X10(6)/ml) included 12 in whom the condition was idiopathic, 2 with cryptorchidism, and 4 with Sertoli cell-only syndrome. Of the 15 patients with ductal obstruction 5 had ejaculatory duct obstruction, 4 had undergone vasectomy, 4 had post-vasovasostomy ductal obstruction, and 2 had epididymal obstruction. The control group included 39 men showing sperm counts of 20X10(6)/ml). Transferrin values in the seminal plasma of the control subjects were significantly higher than those in the men with dutal obstruction (43.3+/-4.8 g/ml vs. 25+/-4.1 g/ml; p=0.033), whereas the EGF concentration in the control group (756.4+/-11.9 pg/ml) was significantly lower than those in the other groups (p=0.048). The transferrin concentration in the seminal plasma can be used to differentiate ductal obstruction from nonobstructive oligospermia.

MeSH Terms

Cryptorchidism
Ejaculatory Ducts
Epidermal Growth Factor*
Humans*
Infertility, Male
Male
Oligospermia
Semen*
Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome
Sperm Count
Transferrin*
Vasectomy
Epidermal Growth Factor
Transferrin