Marinoni Emanuela, Vellucci Olga, Letizia Claudio, Sessa Mariateresa, Moscarini Massimo, Di Iorio Romolo
Department of Gynecology, Perinatology and Child Health, Viale Regina Elena 324, I-00161 Rome, Italy.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2007 Apr;131(2):169-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.06.006. Epub 2006 Jul 18.
The newly discovered vasoactive peptide, adrenomedullin, and its receptors are widely distributed in various non-vascular tissues. Recent studies have suggested the possible regulatory role of adrenomedullin (AM) at several levels of the pituitary-gonadal axis. We determined the level of adrenomedullin-like immunoreactivity in the seminal fluid and examined its possible correlation with routine semen parameters, semen biochemical levels or plasma levels of FSH, LH, testosterone or prolactin.
A total of 51 males were divided into three groups according to semen analysis: (i) normospermic (n=19); (ii) oligozoospermic (n=17); (iii) azoospermic (n=15). All the subjects were submitted to hormone analysis (LH, FSH, testosterone, prolactin), routine semen parameters and semen biochemical levels (fructosio, citric acid, L-carnitine, nitric oxide) evaluation. AM was determined in plasma and seminal fluid using a specific radioimmunoassay.
Mean AM concentration in seminal plasma was higher in oligozoospermic subjects than in normospermic males. In patients with non-obstructive azoospermia AM in semen was significantly lower than in patients with obstructive azoospermia. Semen AM levels correlated negatively with citric acid concentrations in oligozoospermic subjects. In patients with obstructive azoospermia AM in seminal fluid was correlated with citric acid levels. There was a relationship between plasma AM and prolactin.
We conclude that in human seminal fluid AM concentration is increased in infertile oligozoospermic patients and derives very likely from the prostate. Its role in the regulation of male fertility, however has to be understood.
新发现的血管活性肽肾上腺髓质素及其受体广泛分布于各种非血管组织中。最近的研究表明肾上腺髓质素（AM）在垂体 - 性腺轴的多个水平可能发挥调节作用。我们测定了精液中肾上腺髓质素样免疫反应性水平，并检查了其与常规精液参数、精液生化水平或促卵泡激素（FSH）、促黄体生成素（LH）、睾酮或催乳素的血浆水平之间的可能相关性。
根据精液分析将51名男性分为三组：（i）正常精子症组（n = 19）；（ii）少精子症组（n = 17）；（iii）无精子症组（n = 15）。所有受试者均接受激素分析（LH、FSH、睾酮、催乳素）、常规精液参数及精液生化水平（果糖、柠檬酸、左旋肉碱、一氧化氮）评估。采用特异性放射免疫分析法测定血浆和精液中的AM。
少精子症患者精液中AM的平均浓度高于正常精子症男性。非梗阻性无精子症患者精液中的AM显著低于梗阻性无精子症患者。少精子症患者精液中AM水平与柠檬酸浓度呈负相关。梗阻性无精子症患者精液中的AM与柠檬酸水平相关。血浆AM与催乳素之间存在关联。
我们得出结论，在人类精液中，不育少精子症患者的AM浓度升高，很可能来源于前列腺。然而，其在男性生育调节中的作用尚有待明确。
