Related Experiment Videos
Epidermal growth factor in human seminal plasma
Hormone and Metabolic Research = Hormon- Und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones Et Metabolisme
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Human seminal plasma contains epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like substances, but these do not appear to influence sperm function in normal or infertile males. Further research is needed to determine the origin and role of this substance.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen with diverse biological roles.
- The presence and function of EGF-like substances in human seminal plasma are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To partially purify and characterize EGF-like substances from human seminal plasma.
- To determine the concentrations of immunoreactive (IR)-hEGF in seminal plasma from normal and infertile males.
- To investigate the correlation between seminal IR-hEGF levels and sperm parameters.
Main Methods:
- Partial purification of seminal plasma extracts.
- Radioimmunoassay (RIA) and receptor assays for competitive binding analysis.
- Gel exclusion chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and SDS-PAGE for characterization.
- Measurement of IR-hEGF concentrations in seminal plasma.
Main Results:
- Seminal plasma extracts exhibited competitive binding curves parallel to standard hEGF.
- Characterization techniques confirmed seminal IR-hEGF is indistinguishable from urinary hEGF.
- No significant difference in IR-hEGF concentrations was found between normal (48 ± 9 ng/ml) and infertile (41 ± 3 ng/ml) males.
- Seminal IR-hEGF levels did not correlate with sperm density, motility, or morphology.
Conclusions:
- Human seminal plasma contains immunoreactive hEGF that is biochemically similar to urinary hEGF.
- The presence of hEGF in seminal plasma does not appear to be directly related to sperm function.
- The origin and precise physiological role of hEGF in the male reproductive system remain to be elucidated.