Seminal estrone, estrone sulfate, and estradiol-17 beta levels in fertile and infertile males.

The seminal levels of estrone (E1), estrone sulphate (E1S), and estradiol-17 beta (E2) were measured simultaneously after a chromatographic step in the semen samples of 79 men, including fertile volunteers, vasectomized subjects, and patients with oligozoospermia and secretory azoospermia. E1S concentrations in seminal plasma were higher than in serum (with a semen/serum ratio of approximately 2). Seminal E1 and E1S levels in oligozoospermic subjects were significantly decreased compared to controls (p less than 0.02 and p less than 0.03, respectively). The seminal E1S concentration was significantly reduced in azoospermic patients (p less than 0.02) and to a greater extent in vasectomized subjects (p less than 0.001). As seminal E1S is likely to be mainly of testicular origin, the decreased seminal E1S levels in oligoazoospermia are an index of impaired testicular function.

Computer assisted sperm motility analysis.

The CellSoft system was employed to study its reliability in the evaluation of seminal data in fertile and infertile subjects. In addition new motility data were introduced and added to the classic parameters. Various clinical and experimental applications are reported. The system is valid and extremely useful in seminal research. In order to obtain the above mentioned benefits it is necessary for the users to have extensive experience of seminology and computer technology.

Naloxone administration does not affect gonadotropin secretion in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome.

Plasma LH and FSH were measured every 20 min in a group of patients with Klinefelter's syndrome before and after placebo or naloxone administration (8 mg iv as a bolus followed by an infusion of 4 mg/h for 4 h) both in baseline conditions (N = 6) and during treatment with testosterone enanthate (200 mg im every two weeks; N = 4). The mean LH areas measured during saline infusion in baseline conditions (7888 +/- 758 IU/l per min mean +/- SEM) and during testosterone treatment (5042 +/- 2039 IU/l per min) were not significantly different from those measured during naloxone infusion (baseline 8317 +/- 818 IU/l per min; during testosterone treatment 5395 +/- 2007 IU/l per min). Similar results were obtained for FSH. These data suggest that in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome, the opioidergic inhibition of gonadotropin release is lacking and is not restored by testosterone replacement therapy.

Naloxone administration does not affect gonadotropin secretion in agonadal men either basally or during testosterone treatment.

Naloxone administration has no effect on plasma gonadotropin levels of agonadal men. The present study was designed to evaluate whether testosterone replacement therapy could restore LH responsiveness to naloxone in such men. We measured plasma LH and FSH levels at 15-min intervals during naloxone infusion (8 mg in 1 min followed by 12 mg in 3 h) and for the following 3 h in a group of agonadal men both before and after at least 2 months of three different schedules of testosterone replacement therapy: 1) testosterone undecanoate, 40 mg three times a day by mouth; 2) testosterone enanthate 200 mg im every 2 weeks; and 3) testosterone enanthate 100 mg im once a week. Mean plasma gonadotropin levels as well as LH pulse frequency did not vary during naloxone infusion vs. placebo either basally or during each testosterone regimen. These results suggest that long term testosterone therapy does not affect the altered opioid modulation of gonadotropin secretion which is present in agonadal men.