Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is not an index of seminiferous tubular function.

Epidermal growth factor concentrations and amounts per ejaculate were determined in 162 infertile men and in a control group of 50 pregnancy-proven fertile men. No differences were found between those groups. The group of infertile patients was divided into sub-groups according to their sperm density. EGF values in those sub-groups were not significantly different. There was no correlation between EGF concentrations and the variables of the sperm analysis that were measured. All these data suggest that EGF is not an index of gonadal function. This may be due to the fact that probably most EGF in seminal plasma is of prostatic origin.