Tur-Kaspa I, Maor Y, Weissenberg R, Madgar I, Aderka D, Dor J, Mashiach S, Wallach D
Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
J Urol. 1996 Apr;155(4):1436-8.
To study the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the male reproductive systems by examining the occurrence, source, and possible functional significance of soluble TNF receptors in seminal fluids of normal and infertile men.
Concentrations of soluble TNF receptors (p55-sTNF-R and p75-sTNF-R) were measured by ELISA in human sera, seminal fluids, prostatic fluid and fluid obtained from an epididymal spermatocele.
The level of p55-sTNF-R in seminal fluids of normospermic men was approximately equal to 20-fold higher than in normal serum (13.9 +/- 6.9 ng./ml. versus 0.7 +/- 0.2 ng./ml.). In contrast, p75-sTNF-R, which occurs in serum at amounts higher than p55-sTNF-R, was almost indiscernible in the seminal fluids (<0.18 +/- 0.28 ng./ml. versus 1.9 +/- 0.6 ng./ml. in sera). Concentrations of p55-sTNF-R in seminal fluids of oligoasthenospermic and azoospermic men were similar to those of normospermic men (15.6 +/- 8.5 ng./ml. and 14.9 +/- 6.5 ng./ml., respectively). Higher p55-sTNF-R concentrations were found in prostatic fluids and first split ejaculates (39.8 +/- 1.2 ng./ml. and 32 +/- 1.7 ng./ml., respectively), while second split ejaculates and the fluid from an epididymal spermatocele were found to contain p55-sTNF-R at lower levels (10.8 +/- 1 ng./ml. and 1 ng./ml., respectively).
These findings suggest intense local biosynthesis of p55-sTNF-R in the prostate occurring independently of spermatogenesis. Possible functional implications are: 1) shielding of spermatozoa from the inhibitory effect of TNF in the female reproductive tract; 2) a role for TNF in the normal physiology of the prostate; and 3) blocking TNF-mediated immune response in the prostate, which may have bearings on the development of prostatic hypertrophy or cancer.
通过检测正常男性和不育男性精液中可溶性肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）受体的出现情况、来源及可能的功能意义，研究TNF在男性生殖系统中的作用。
采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）检测人血清、精液、前列腺液及附睾精液囊肿液中可溶性TNF受体（p55-sTNF-R和p75-sTNF-R）的浓度。
正常精子密度男性精液中p55-sTNF-R水平约比正常血清高20倍（分别为13.9±6.9 ng/ml和0.7±0.2 ng/ml）。相比之下，血清中含量高于p55-sTNF-R的p75-sTNF-R在精液中几乎难以检测到（分别为<0.18±0.28 ng/ml和血清中的1.9±0.6 ng/ml）。少弱精子症和无精子症男性精液中p55-sTNF-R浓度与正常精子密度男性相似（分别为15.6±8.5 ng/ml和14.9±6.5 ng/ml）。前列腺液和首次分段射精液中p55-sTNF-R浓度较高（分别为39.8±1.2 ng/ml和32±1.7 ng/ml），而第二次分段射精液和附睾精液囊肿液中p55-sTNF-R含量较低（分别为10.8±1 ng/ml和1 ng/ml）。
这些发现表明前列腺中p55-sTNF-R存在强烈的局部生物合成，且独立于精子发生过程。可能的功能意义包括：1）保护精子免受女性生殖道中TNF的抑制作用；2）TNF在前列腺正常生理功能中的作用；3）阻断前列腺中TNF介导的免疫反应，这可能与前列腺肥大或癌症的发生有关。
