The aim of this study was to investigate inhibin B and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion in a large group of oligozoospermic subjects affected by different degrees of testicular damage, before and after FSH treatment. A total of 135 oligozoospermic subjects (sperm count < 20 x 10(6)/ml) were evaluated for seminal parameters and FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and inhibin B plasma concentrations. Testicular structure was analysed with bilateral fine needle aspiration cytology. Inhibin B showed an inverse correlation with FSH, no correlation with sperm concentration and a significant relationship with intratesticular spermatid number, demonstrating that testicular spermatids play an important role in the control of inhibin B production. Twenty-five subjects with sperm counts < 10 x 10(6)/ml were treated with FSH; 11 of these had basal FSH and inhibin B plasma concentrations in the normal range (group A), while in seven subjects FSH was elevated (> 7 IU/l) with normal inhibin B (group B), and in seven patients FSH was high and inhibin B reduced (< 80 pg/ml) (group C). During treatment, in group A patients inhibin B plasma concentrations increased significantly after 2, 3 and 4 weeks of FSH administration and declined thereafter to pre-treatment concentrations. Groups B and C did not show any modification during the treatment. In the same period, in group A FSH increased significantly after 2, 3 and 4 weeks and subsequently declined. In groups B and C, FSH increased significantly after 2 weeks and remained elevated during the following period. The results of the present study confirm the significant inverse correlation between inhibin B and FSH plasma concentrations in subjects with disturbed spermatogenesis, and demonstrate that inhibin B reflects Sertoli cell function and their interaction with spermatids. FSH and inhibin B concentrations are an expression of the spermatogenic status of seminiferous tubules. FSH treatment seems to modify inhibin B plasma concentrations only in subjects with normal basal FSH and inhibin B, independently from the effects of this therapy on sperm production.
Inhibin B plasma concentrations in oligozoospermic subjects before and after therapy with follicle stimulating hormone / Foresta, C; Bettella, A; Rossato, M; LA SALA, Giovanni Battista; De Paoli, M; Plebani, M.. - In: HUMAN REPRODUCTION. - ISSN 0268-1161. - ELETTRONICO. - 14(1999), pp. 906-912.
Data di pubblicazione: | 1999 | |
Titolo: | Inhibin B plasma concentrations in oligozoospermic subjects before and after therapy with follicle stimulating hormone. | |
Autore/i: | Foresta, C; Bettella, A; Rossato, M; LA SALA, Giovanni Battista; De Paoli, M; Plebani, M. | |
Autore/i UNIMORE: | ||
Rivista: | ||
Volume: | 14 | |
Pagina iniziale: | 906 | |
Pagina finale: | 912 | |
Codice identificativo ISI: | WOS:000079783700010 | |
Codice identificativo Scopus: | 2-s2.0-0032939074 | |
Codice identificativo Pubmed: | 10221217 | |
Citazione: | Inhibin B plasma concentrations in oligozoospermic subjects before and after therapy with follicle stimulating hormone / Foresta, C; Bettella, A; Rossato, M; LA SALA, Giovanni Battista; De Paoli, M; Plebani, M.. - In: HUMAN REPRODUCTION. - ISSN 0268-1161. - ELETTRONICO. - 14(1999), pp. 906-912. | |
Tipologia | Articolo su rivista |
File in questo prodotto:
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris