Sharkey David J, Tremellen Kelton P, Briggs Nancy E, Dekker Gustaaf A, Robertson Sarah A
Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
Repromed Pty Ltd, 180 Fullarton Road, Dulwich, SA 5065, Australia School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
Hum Reprod. 2016 Oct;31(10):2183-91. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dew185. Epub 2016 Sep 8.
Do seminal plasma transforming growth factor-β (TGFB) cytokines vary within individuals over time, and does this relate to sperm parameters, age or prior abstinence?
Activin A and follistatin, and to a lesser extent TGFB1, TGFB2 and TGFB3, vary within individuals over time, in association with duration of abstinence.
Seminal plasma TGFB cytokines can influence sperm function and reproductive success through interactions with the female reproductive tract after coitus. Over time, individual sperm parameters fluctuate considerably. Whether seminal fluid TGFB cytokines vary similarly, and the determinants of any variance, is unknown.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Between two and seven semen samples were collected from each of 14 fertile donors at 6-10 week intervals over the course of 12 months, then seminal plasma cytokines and sperm parameters were measured.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING AND METHOD: The concentrations and total amounts per ejaculate of TGFB1, TGFB2, TGFB3, activin A and follistatin were determined using commercial assays. Sperm parameters were assessed according to WHO IV standards. Mixed model analysis was utilised to determine the relative contribution of between- and within-individual factors to the variance. Relationships between cytokines and sperm parameters, as well as effect of age and duration of abstinence, were investigated by correlation analysis.
Within-individual variability contributed to the total variance for all cytokines and sperm parameters, and was a stronger determinant than between-individual variability for activin A and follistatin as well as for total sperm concentration and sperm motility. Positive correlations between each of the three TGFB isoforms, and activin and follistatin, suggest co-regulation of synthesis. Duration of abstinence influenced total content of TGFB1, TGFB2, activin A and follistatin. TGFB1 correlated inversely with age.
LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: A limited number of donors from a single clinic were investigated. Clinical information on BMI, nutrition, smoking and other lifestyle factors was unavailable. Further studies are required to determine whether the findings can be generalised to larger populations and different ethnicities.
These data reveal substantial variation over time in seminal fluid cytokines and indicate that repeated analyses are required to gain precise representative data on an individual's status. Within-individual variation in seminal fluid components should be taken into account when investigating seminal fluid cytokines.
STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This study was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, ID453556 and APP1041332. The authors have no competing interests to disclose.
精液中的转化生长因子-β（TGFB）细胞因子在个体内随时间会发生变化吗？这与精子参数、年龄或之前的禁欲情况有关吗？
激活素A和卵泡抑素，以及程度稍轻的TGFB1、TGFB2和TGFB3，在个体内随时间变化，与禁欲持续时间相关。
精液中的TGFB细胞因子在性交后可通过与女性生殖道的相互作用影响精子功能和生殖成功率。随着时间推移，个体的精子参数波动很大。精液中的TGFB细胞因子是否也有类似变化以及任何变化的决定因素尚不清楚。
研究设计、规模、持续时间：在12个月的时间里，每隔6 - 10周从14名生育能力正常的供体中每人采集2至7份精液样本，然后测量精液中的细胞因子和精子参数。
参与者/材料、环境与方法：使用商业检测方法测定TGFB1、TGFB2、TGFB3、激活素A和卵泡抑素的浓度以及每次射精的总量。根据世界卫生组织第四版标准评估精子参数。采用混合模型分析来确定个体间和个体内因素对方差的相对贡献。通过相关性分析研究细胞因子与精子参数之间的关系以及年龄和禁欲持续时间的影响。
个体内变异性对所有细胞因子和精子参数的总方差有贡献，并且对于激活素A、卵泡抑素以及总精子浓度和精子活力来说，它是比个体间变异性更强的决定因素。三种TGFB亚型中的每一种与激活素和卵泡抑素之间的正相关表明它们在合成上存在共同调节。禁欲持续时间影响TGFB1、TGFB2、激活素A和卵泡抑素的总量。TGFB1与年龄呈负相关。
局限性、谨慎原因：仅对来自单一诊所的有限数量的供体进行了研究。无法获取关于体重指数、营养、吸烟和其他生活方式因素的临床信息。需要进一步研究以确定这些发现是否能推广到更大规模的人群和不同种族。
这些数据揭示了精液细胞因子随时间的显著变化，并表明需要进行重复分析以获得关于个体状况的精确代表性数据。在研究精液细胞因子时应考虑精液成分的个体内差异。
研究资金/利益冲突：本研究由澳大利亚国家卫生与医学研究委员会的资助（编号453556和APP1041332）。作者声明无利益冲突。
