HIGH LEVELS OF SOLUBLE p55-TNF RECEPTORS IN SEMINAL AND PROSTATIC FLUIDS OF NORMAL AND INFERTILE MEN

AbstractPurpose: To study the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the male reproductive system by examining the occurrence, source, and possible functional significance of soluble TNF receptors in seminal fluids of normal and infertile men.Materials and Methods: 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.Results: The level of p55-sTNF-R in seminal fluids of normospermic men was [nearly equal] 20-fold higher than in normal serum (13.9 plus/minus 6.9 ng./ml. versus 0.7 plus/minus 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 (less than 0.18 plus/minus 0.28 ng./ml. versus 1.9 plus/minus 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 plus/minus 8.5 ng./ml. ...