Carcinoembryonic antigen activity in human seminal plasma.

ABSTRACT

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) immunoreactivity in the seminal plasma of 101 men was studied by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). It was found that (1) mean CEA (or CEA-like activity) in seminal plasma is about 8.5 times higher than the upper CEA limit in normal serum; (2) there is no statistically significant difference between the antigen levels of normal controls and various groups of men with fertility problems, as well as between men with normal and those with abnormal spermiogram; (3) the prostate seems to be the main site of origin of CEA or CEA-like activity in the seminal plasma.