Changes in seminal fluid zinc during experimental prostatitis

Patients with prostatitis have been found to have decreased prostatic fluid zinc (PF Zn). It is unclear whether changes of prostatitis are due to an inherent lack of Zn in some patients or whether the changes, including reduced PF Zn, are due to the infectious process itself. Six nonhuman primates were infected with 1 x 10(5) E. coli JR340, a clinical isolate known to cause prostatitis in the monkey. After infection, seminal fluid for culture and zinc assay was obtained by electroejaculation. Zinc was measured by colorimetric analysis. Blood counts, quantitative renal scans and urine cultures were also monitored. The animals were followed for 4 weeks and then sacrificed. The histopathology showed resolving prostatitis and fibrosis. Zinc levels dropped with acute infection, and variably recovered as the infection cleared. Controls showed slight variability with respect to PF Zn. It appears that PF Zn decreases as a result of the infectious process.