Tomamichel G R, Bandhauer K
J Androl. 1986 Sep-Oct;7(5):328-30. doi: 10.1002/j.1939-4640.1986.tb00942.x.
Free carnitine in human semen originates predominantly in the epididymis. The role of carnitine in the evaluation of different forms of obstructive azoospermia was studied in 42 patients. In 14 of the men, a bilateral vasectomy had been performed. In the remaining 28 patients, the occlusion was located within the epididymis. In postvasectomy cases and where the occlusion was located in the cauda epididymidis, carnitine concentrations were low, with mean values of 115.57 mumol/l and 121.28 mumol/l, respectively. When the occlusion was located in the corpus epididymidis, the mean value increased to 194.72 mumol/l. In patients having obstruction of the caput epididymidis or of the rete testis, the mean value of free carnitine was 416.0 mumol/l. After vasovasostomy, a return of free carnitine concentration to the normal range was observed in 10 of 12 cases. The results indicate that there is a significant correlation in patients with obstructive azoospermia between the concentration of free carnitine and the anatomic site of the obstruction. These findings may lead to important conclusions concerning therapy and prognosis for patients presenting with this condition.
人类精液中的游离肉碱主要来源于附睾。对42例患者研究了肉碱在不同类型梗阻性无精子症评估中的作用。其中14名男性曾接受双侧输精管切除术。其余28例患者的梗阻位于附睾内。在输精管切除术后的病例以及梗阻位于附睾尾部的病例中，肉碱浓度较低，平均值分别为115.57μmol/L和121.28μmol/L。当梗阻位于附睾体部时，平均值增至194.72μmol/L。在附睾头部或睾丸网梗阻的患者中，游离肉碱的平均值为416.0μmol/L。输精管吻合术后，12例中有10例游离肉碱浓度恢复到正常范围。结果表明，梗阻性无精子症患者的游离肉碱浓度与梗阻的解剖部位之间存在显著相关性。这些发现可能会得出有关该疾病患者治疗和预后的重要结论。
