beta-endorphin and Infertility--Male

To access beta-endorphin levels in serum as well as seminal plasma in different infertile male groups.. Beta-endorphin was estimated in the serum and seminal plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in 80 infertile men equally divided into four groups: non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), obstructive azoospermia (OA), congenital bilateral absent vas deferens (CBVAD) and asthenozoospermia. The results were compared to those of 20 normozoospermic proven fertile men.. There was a decrease in the mean levels of beta-endorphin in the seminal plasma of all successive infertile groups (mean +/- SD: NOA 51.30 +/- 27.37, OA 51.88 +/- 9.47, CBAVD 20.36 +/- 13.39, asthenozoospermia 49.26 +/- 12.49 pg/mL, respectively) compared to the normozoospermic fertile control (87.23 +/- 29.55 pg/mL). This relation was not present in mean serum level of beta-endorphin between four infertile groups (51.09 +/- 14.71, 49.76 +/- 12.4, 33.96 +/- 7.2, 69.1 +/- 16.57 pg/mL, respectively) and the fertile control group (49.26 +/- 31.32 pg/mL). The CBVAD group showed the lowest seminal plasma mean level of beta-endorphin. Testicular contribution of seminal beta-endorphin was estimated to be approximately 40%. Seminal beta-endorphin showed significant correlation with the sperm concentration (r = 0.699, P = 0.0188) and nonsignificant correlation with its serum level (r = 0.375, P = 0.185) or with the sperm motility percentage (r = 0.470, P = 0.899).. The estimation of beta-endorphin alone is not conclusive to evaluate male reproduction as there are many other opiates acting at the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis.

Topics: Asthenozoospermia; Azoospermia; beta-Endorphin; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Prospective Studies; Semen; Vas Deferens

Human semen contains large amounts of opioid peptides and cytokines. We have measured the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 in 140 semen samples and of beta-endorphin in 77 semen samples. The median concentration of beta-endorphin in seminal plasma from normozoospermic men (n = 23) was 154.7 pg/ml (10th-90th percentiles, 42.0-774.6), and there was no significant difference in the beta-endorphin concentration among normozoospermic, oligozoospermic (n = 28), asthenozoospermic (n = 15), azoospermic (n = 4) and post-vasectomy (n = 7) samples. There was no correlation between beta-endorphin concentration and sperm characteristics, nor with blood hormones. beta-Endorphin concentration was lower in cases with immunological infertility, as revealed by a positive direct mixed antiglobulin reaction test (n = 12) (P < 0.01), than in matched controls. The median concentration of IL-6 in samples with normal sperm concentration, motility and morphology with or without white blood cells (n = 39) was 26.1 pg/ml (10th-90th percentiles, 7.3-172.3), and there was no significant difference in the IL-6 concentration among normozoospermic, oligozoospermic (n = 46), asthenozoospermic (n = 32), azoospermic (n = 13) and post-vasectomy (n = 10) samples. The IL-6 concentration was significantly higher in cases of varicocele (n = 22) without white blood cells in semen (P < 0.001) than in matched controls without varicocele (n = 23). In addition, the IL-6 concentration was elevated (P < 0.0001) in cases with accessory sex gland inflammation (n = 40). IL-6 concentration was positively correlated with white blood cells in semen (n = 60, r = 0.59, P < 0.0001), but there was no correlation with beta-endorphin concentration. The IL-6 concentration chosen to differentiate between cases with and without accessory gland inflammation was 45.3 pg/ml, with a specificity of 80.6% and a sensitivity of 92.5%. It is concluded that beta-endorphin in seminal plasma plays an immune suppressive role, and that increased IL-6 concentration may be related to testicular dysfunction in cases with varicocele. Furthermore, IL-6 is an accurate marker of accessory sex gland inflammation.

Topics: beta-Endorphin; Case-Control Studies; Genital Diseases, Male; Humans; Infertility, Male; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Leukocyte Count; Male; Oligospermia; Semen; Varicocele; Vasectomy

The levels of beta-endorphin (beta-E) and calcitonin were estimated in 36 samples of seminal plasma from semen of normospermic, oligozoospermic, and azoospermic origins and in pools of isolated sperm. The mean levels in plasma calculated for all samples examined were 192 +/- 224 pg/ml for beta-E and 754 +/- 397 pg/ml for calcitonin. The amounts in sperm were as follows: for beta-E in pools with sperm counts of 0.1-10 x 10(6)/ml, 157.2 +/- 99.7 pg/10(8) and 27.9 +/- 23.6 pg/ml protein; in pools of greater than 10-30 x 10(6)/ml, 71.2 +/- 41.5 pg/10(8) and 6.5 +/- 1.2 pg/mg protein; in pools of greater than 30-200 x 10(6)/ml, 24.9 +/- 9.7 pg/10(8) and 61 +/- 1.9 pg/mg protein. For calcitonin the amounts were: 501.2 +/- 170.8 pg/10(8) and 27.4 +/- 21.5 pg/mg protein, correspondingly. It was suggested that beta-E and calcitonin present in seminal plasma are synthesized mostly in a compartment of the male reproductive system. The high cellular beta-E and calcitonin levels would be involved in the process of motility through their effect on calcium transport.

Topics: beta-Endorphin; Calcitonin; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Semen; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility

Beta-endorphin (beta-ED) levels were evaluated in blood and seminal plasma of men with infertility due to varicocele, obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia, and idiopathic oligoasthenospermia. The relation of this opiate to serum levels of gonadotropins, prolactin, testosterone, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate has also been investigated. beta-ED levels in seminal plasma were significantly higher than in blood plasma (p less than 0.001) in all persons studied. No statistically significant differences were found for beta-ED concentrations in semen or blood among any of the infertility situations studied. Nor were significant correlations observed between the concentration of this opiate and that of gonadotropins, prolactin, and androgens. The measurement of beta-ED in semen has little value in the differential diagnosis of male infertility. Nonetheless, its presence in high levels in semen must have some unknown function. Possibly, it comes from the various sites of the male reproductive tract, since no significant differences were found between obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermias.

Topics: Androstenedione; beta-Endorphin; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Endorphins; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Infertility, Male; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Prolactin; Semen; Testosterone