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Detection of erythropoietin in human seminal plasma
Kumiko Temma1, Koichiro Shimoya, Kazumasa Hashimoto
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Objective:
To examine the presence of erythropoietin (EPO) in ejaculates and the association between EPO levels in seminal plasma and semen parameters.
Design:
Retrospective analysis.
Setting:
University hospital in Japan.
Patient(S):
Eighty-three infertile males and 16 volunteers with proven fertility.
Intervention(S):
Semen was obtained by masturbation after 5 days of abstinence. Blood sample and split ejaculates of 16 volunteers with proven fertility were collected.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunoassay in the seminal plasma and sperm parameters.
Result(S):
Western blot analysis showed that EPO protein was present in the seminal plasma. The EPO titers in the seminal plasma ranged from 1.5 mIU/mL to 45.0 mIU/mL by enzyme-linked immunoassay. There was no significant association between EPO levels and semen parameters. The first fraction of samples obtained by split ejaculation contained almost the same amount of EPO as the second fraction.
Conclusion(S):
Erythropoietin protein was constitutively present in seminal plasma. The seminal EPO originated from the prostate and seminal vesicle. No association between EPO levels in seminal plasma and sperm parameters was found in the present study.
