[Tumor necrosis factor in the ejaculate as an indicator of reduced fertility].

INTRODUCTION: Pro-inflammatory cytokine - tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is one of the components of the seminal plasma proteome; its meaning has not been definitively revealed. A comparative analysis of the concentration of this protein in the blood serum and in the ejaculate and changes in its level in the semen of men with infertility is f scientific interest. THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: determination of TNF- level in the blood serum and seminal plasma of healthy men and patients with reduced fertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 70 men of reproductive age with azoospermia (main group, n=18), with oligoastenozoospermia (comparison group, n=18) and with normal spermogram parameters (control group, n=34) were examined. The ejaculate was examined using an SQA-V semen analyzer (MES, Israel). In seminal plasma samples, the concentration of TNF was determined using the alpha-TNF-ELISA-BEST test system (A-8756, Vector-Best LL, Russia). RESULTS: The concentration of TNF- in blood serum had a significant variation (CV=85.31%) and amounted to 2.75+/-2.18 pg/ml, which is 2.55 times lower than the same indicator in seminal plasma (7.01+/-5.98 pg/ml, CV=126.15%, p<0.00001). When comparing the content of TNF- in seminal plasma, significant differences were found in the examined patients (Kruskal-Wallis test H=24.75991; p<0.00001). Pairwise comparison revealed a statistically significant difference in the level of TNF- in seminal plasma between the comparison and control groups (p2-3=0.000023), as well as between the main group and the comparison group (p1-2=0.000043); there were no significant differences between the main and control groups (p>0.05). When determining the content of TNF- in the blood serum, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). There were no correlations between the concentration of TNF- in blood serum and in seminal plasma (R=0.295374), and the total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate (R=-0.027945); and the concentration of spermatozoa in the ejaculate (R=-0.042902). DISCUSSION: It is unlikely that TNF crosses into seminal plasma from serum against a concentration gradient. It is most likely that TNF is produced locally in the organs of the reproductive system by resident immune cells or cells involved in spermatogenesis. An increased content of TNF- in seminal plasma in patients of the comparison group may indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the reproductive system and a reduced fertility of the ejaculate. CONCLUSION: The physiological role of TNF in sperm, its sources in the organs of the male reproductive system, and the pathogenetic mechanisms of the participation of the TNF in pathological processes in male reproductive system still remain unclear. All this justifies the need for further study of the TNF level in seminal plasma in normal conditions and in diseases of the urogenital tract in men.

[Fatty acid-binding protein in the serum and sperm].

INTRODUCTION: a composition of seminal plasma reflects a state of reproductive organs that are involved in sperm production. AIM: to study a concentration of fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) in blood serum and sperm samples with normal and altered characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: a total of 82 men with mean age of 33.1+/-4.7 years old who were examined to clarify the cause of infertility were included in the study. The main group (n=21) consisted of men with oligozoospermia, while control group (n=33) consisted of healthy men with normal sperm analysis. In addition, patients with high viscosity of sperm were included in the comparison group (n=28). There were no changes in complete blood count and biochemical blood panel in all participants. The content of FABP in blood serum and seminal plasma was determined. RESULTS: the average content of FABP in seminal plasma was 1.347+/-0.26 ng/ml and exceeded the serum concentration of this compound (p<0.000001), which was 0.305+/-0.193 ng/ml. The concentration in seminal plasma did not depend on its serum concentration (R=0,068194), as well as the sperm volume and viscosity, but it was correlated with sperm concentration (R=0,66387). The concentration of FABP in seminal plasma was highest in the control group (1.47+/-0.33 ng / ml) and it was higher compared to the main group (1.22+/-0.09 ng/ml; p=0.000057) and the comparison group (1.29+/-0.19 ng/ml; p=0.010822). There was no difference between groups in serum concentration of FABP (p=0.9814). CONCLUSION: the obtained data suggest that a reduced level of FABP in seminal plasma can be considered as unfavorable criterion indicating a reduced fertility.