Idiopathic oligospermia and peripheral androgen metabolism

3 alpha, 17 beta-Androstanediol glucuronide (3 alpha-diol G), a marker of peripheral androgen action, known to be decreased in states of androgen insensitivity, was measured along with testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in both serum and seminal plasma of men with idiopathic oligospermia (IO). Seminal plasma T and DHT values were decreased in IO, compared with control values. The values of seminal plasma DHT correlated with the sperm count (r = 0.42, P less than 0.05). Serum 3 alpha-diol G was unaltered in IO as compared with controls. Levels of 3 alpha-diol G in seminal plasma were also similar. Seminal plasma 3 alpha-diol G, averaging 161 ng/dl (95% confidence limits, 33 to 320 ng/dl), represented a three- to fourfold decrease from levels in serum. This, in comparison with the 20-fold difference between seminal plasma and serum T, implies a different metabolic and/or secretory pattern for 3 alpha-diol G. We conclude that 3 alpha-diol G is not a useful marker of IO and suggest that, given the limitations of our measurements, androgen resistance may not be a common finding in this disorder.