[Testosterone-inhibin interaction in male sterility]

The purpose of investigation was to define the role of hormones, circulating in the peripheral blood and contained in the seminal fluid of an ejaculate, in the pathogenesis of sterility. Men under 40 with a secretory type of sterility were investigated. A decrease in testosterone concentration with a high level of estradiol was observed in peripheral blood. Blood inhibin activity was low in healthy persons and in patients (though higher in the latter). LH and prolactin levels were raised in the absence of changes in FSH and cortisol concentrations. The level of testosterone in the seminal plasma was much lower than in peripheral blood whereas inhibin activity was higher in all examinees. Blood concentration of testosterone in healthy subjects and sterile patients was shown to have a positive correlation with the concentration of spermatozoa and their mobility. Testosterone concentration in the seminal plasma was reflected, to a lesser degree, in spermograms than in peripheral blood. The activity of circulating and seminal inhibin showed reverse correlation with the concentration of spermatozoa in healthy subjects; such a correlation in patients was observed only with blood inhibin. In the activity of spermatozoons negative correlation was observed in healthy subjects only. Disorder of the above correlation was revealed against a background of the high activity of inhibin that could determine sterility.