Possible Relationship Between Seminal Plasma Inhibin B and Spermatogenesis in Patients With Azoospermia

• Published in: Journal of andrology Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 825 - 829
• Main Authors: Garem, Yehia F. El, Arini, Ali F. El, Beheiry, Adel H. El, Zeid, Sami A. Abou, Comhaire, Frank H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Am Soc Andrology 01.11.2002; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; American Society of Andrology
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Inhibins - metabolism; Male; Male infertility; Medical sciences; Oligospermia - physiopathology; Semen - metabolism; Sertoli cell; Spermatogenesis - physiology; Spermatozoa; Sterility. Assisted procreation; testicular sperm extraction; Testis; testis biopsy; Tissue and Organ Harvesting; Human; Sertoli cell; Semen; Spermatogenesis; Inhibin; Testicle; Male genital system; Semen disorders; Azoospermia; testicular sperm extraction; Male infertility; Male sterility; Seminal plasma; Male genital diseases; testis biopsy
• ISSN: 0196-3635; 1939-4640
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1939-4640.2002.tb02340.x

Inhibin B is bidirectionally secreted by Sertoli cells, basal secretion into the circulation exerts negative feedback on follicle‐stimulating hormone secretion, and serum inhibin B is considered a marker of spermatogenesis. The precise role of apical secretion is unknown. The objective of our work was to study the relationship between seminal inhibin B and spermatogenesis. Dimeric inhibin B was measured by immunoassay in seminal plasma of volunteers with normozoospermia (n = 10, group 1), in men after vasectomy (n = 10, group 2), and in men with azoospermia (n = 50, group 3). Testicular biopsy and testicular sperm extraction were performed in men with azoospermia. Seminal inhibin B levels were higher in men in group 1 than in men in groups 2 and 3 (P < .0001). In seminal plasma, inhibin B presents a positive correlation with alpha glucosidase activity (r = .37, P = .002). Seminal inhibin B is inversely related with serum FSH (r = ‐.58, P < .001), and presents a weak positive correlation with serum testosterone concentration (r = .29, P = .03). No difference was found between inhibin B levels in seminal plasma of patients with nonobstructive or obstructive azoospermia, and between positive or negative outcome of TESE. We conclude that inhibin B secretion by Sertoli cells is differentially regulated. The contribution of accessory sex glands limits the use of seminal plasma inhibin B as a marker of spermatogenesis.