Relationship of seminal plasma transferrin with seminal parameters in male infertility

This study was undertaken to investigate whether there is relationship between seminal plasma transferrin and seminal parameters which included sperm count, motility and morphology. The study included 100 male subjects in the age group of 23-41 yrs including 7 proven fertility, 6 post-vasectomised and 87 subjects were of idiopathic infertility. Estimation of seminal plasma transferrin concentration was done by using Mancini's single radial immunodiffusion technique. Study of the seminal parameters (Sperm count, Motility and Morphology) was done by using guidelines of WHO Manual. Mean seminal plasma transferrin concentration in proven fertility subject was 5.35 mg/dl (+/- 2.07) and in normozoospermic subject was 4.63 mg/dl (+/- 2.50) which was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those of oligozoospermic, azoospermic and post-vasectomised subjects. Coefficient of correlation between seminal plasma transferrin concentration and sperm count was statistically significant (r = 0.3087, P < 0.001). The seminal plasma transferrin concentration was correlated with the percentage of motile sperms and was statistically significant. However no correlation could be demonstrated with various grades of motility. Statistically significant correlation was not found between transferrin and sperm morphology. The present study demonstrates that seminal plasma transferrin concentration is correlated with sperm count and percent motile sperms. Thus sertoli cell secretion-transferin has a positive influence over spermatogenesis and can be used as a marker of testicular function.