Seminal somatostatin in men with spinal cord injury

Somatostatin is present in high concentrations in human seminal plasma. Semen was obtained from men with spinal cord injury by vibratory-and/or electrostimulation. The seminal somatostatin concentration and sperm motility rate depended on the location of the spinal cord lesion. In men with lesions at or above T6 the seminal plasma concentration was significantly decreased compared to healthy men and to patients with lesions below T6 (P < 0.005). The latter group did not differ from healthy men. Men with spinal cord lesions below T6 had significantly decreased sperm motility rates (P = 0.09) compared to patients with lesions at or above T6. Seminal somatostatin concentrations were similar in vibratory- and electrostimulated ejaculates. The seminal somatostatin concentration, semen volume, sperm count, motility and morphology in each patient was not affected when repeated vibratory ejaculations were performed at home.