Levels of luteinizing hormone in semen of fertile and infertile men and possible significance of luteinizing hormone in sperm metabolism.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were measured in the seminal plasma of 68 fertile and infertile men. LH levels in the seminal plasma were severalfold higher than those normally found in serum and were significantly higher in oligospermic and normospermic samples than in azoospermic samples. However, no significant difference was observed in LH levels of oligospermic and normospermic men. The effects of LH on fructose utilization, glucose oxidation, and adenyl cyclase activity of spermatozoa were also examined. The results indicate a possible role of seminal plasma LH in sperm motility and metabolism.

Effect of administration of a single dose of testosterone oenanthate on constituents of human seminal plasma and serum gonadotropins.

Testosterone oenanthate was administered intramuscularly in six infertile men with oligozoospermia and its effects on serum gonadotropins and some constituents in the seminal plasma were studied. One week after injection the mean serum FSH level was decreased to about 50%. Serum LH levels did not change. The mean ornithine decarboxylase activity in human semen was increased by 100% after the testosterone administration. The androgen dependent nature of ODC, fructose and sialic acid have been demonstrated.

PIP: The effect of a single im injection of testosterone enanthate (TE) on serum gonadotropins and constituents of seminal plasma was studied in 6 oligospermic men. Within 1 week of injection, mean serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were reduced by 50%, while luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were unaltered. Treatment increased the mean ornithine decarboxylase activity in seminal plasma by 100%. The citric acid content and maltase activity of seminal plasma were not markedly altered. Fructose concentrations were significantly (p less than .05) higher during the 3rd and 4th weeks after injection, while sialic acid concentrations were significantly (p less than .05) elevated during the 2nd week. The results indicate that ornithine decarboxylase activity in seminal plasma may be a useful indicator for evaluating the secretory function of the accessory sex glands.