• PMID: 18584411
• Gene Name: GHRL
• Condition: Dyspermia
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 98
• Population details: 98 (26 men with normospermia and proven fertility, 62 men with idiopathic oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia, 10 men with idiopathic azoospermia)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: Ghrelin
• Other associated phenotypes: Dyspermia

Serum and seminal plasma ghrelin levels in men with normospermia and dyspermia

Panidis D, Goulis DG, Katsikis I, Koliakos G, Georgopoulos NA, Diamanti-Kandarakis E.

AIMS: To investigate the existence of ghrelin in seminal plasma and the levels of serum ghrelin in men with normospermia and dyspermia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight men were classified into three groups: Group 1, men with normospermia and proven fertility (n = 26); Group 2, men with idiopathic oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (n = 62); and Group 3, men with idiopathic azoospermia (n = 10). Spermiograms and determination of ghrelin in serum and seminal plasma were performed in all men. RESULTS: Ghrelin was present in the seminal plasma of men from all groups at a concentration of 27%, 18% and 30% of the corresponding serum levels (mean +/- standard error: Group 1, 127.7 +/- 14.7 vs. 468.3 +/- 35.5 pmol/l, p = 0.003; Group 2, 117.0 +/- 10.1 vs. 637.0 +/- 29.3 pmol/l, p < 0.001; Group 3, 166.2 +/- 32.5 vs. 557.7 +/- 25.4 pmol/l, p = 0.068). When Group 1 men were compared with men from Groups 2 and 3 combined, there were no significant differences in serum (mean +/- standard error: 468.3 +/- 35.5 vs. 628.0 +/- 26.4 pmol/l, p = not significant) or seminal plasma ghrelin (mean +/- standard error: 127.7 +/- 14.7 vs. 123.9 +/- 9.9 pmol/l, p = not significant). In the total group of studied men (Groups 1 to 3), serum ghrelin was positively correlated with semen volume (r = 0.309, p = 0.037), whereas seminal plasma ghrelin was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.268, p = 0.008) and semen volume (r = -0.385, p < 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Ghrelin is present in human seminal plasma at lower levels than in serum. There is no difference in seminal plasma ghrelin levels between men with normospermia and dyspermia. FAU - Panidis, Dimitrios AU - Panidis D AD - Division of Endocrinology and Human Reproduction, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. FAU - Goulis, Dimitrios G AU - Goulis DG FAU - Katsikis, Ilias AU - Katsikis I FAU - Koliakos, George AU - Koliakos G FAU - Georgopoulos, Neoklis A AU - Georgopoulos NA