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Association of decreased sperm motility and increased seminal plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2, and PSA levels in infertile men

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Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies have suggested the involvement of serum insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) in the regulation of the female reproductive system. Little is known of these peptides in the seminal plasma (SP) of men and their potential effects on fertility. We assessed SP levels of these peptides in infertile men with low sperm motility (asthenozoospermic; AZ) and low sperm counts (oligozoospermic; OZ), its effects on in vivo sperm motility, and whether there is a correlation with aging.

Methods

Twenty-eight infertile men (AZ; n = 18 and OZ; n = 10) and 20 fertile normozoospermic (NZ) men were studied. Seminal plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were measured, and spermatozoa mRNA transcript patterns were examined.

Results

Asthenozoospermic men had higher SP IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2, and PSA levels than NZ and OZ men, whereas SP IGFBP-3 levels were similar between the three groups. Sperm count positively correlated with SP IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-2; sperm motility negatively correlated with SP IGF-II and IGFBP-2; and age correlated positively with SP IGF-II. The expression of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA and mRNA receptors was detectable, but no variations in transcript levels were noted.

Conclusion

Decreased sperm motility, but not sperm count, in infertile AZ men is associated with increased SP IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2, and PSA levels. Changes in SP IGFs and their interactions with IGFBPs and IGF receptors, and PSA levels suggest a role of these SP peptides in modulating sperm motility and possibly prostate disease development in aging men.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their acknowledgment of the patients, control subjects, nurses, study coordinators, and sub-investigators involved in the study.

Funding information:

L.F., A.N.T., and K.O.L. are supported in part by a grant from the Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Singapore. A.R.H. is supported in part by the VA Biomedical Merit Review (BX002905).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore

    Li Fu, Aye Nyein Tint & Kok Onn Lee

  2. Barrow Pituitary Center, Department of Neuroendocrinology and Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine and Creighton School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA

    Kevin C. J. Yuen

  3. Department of Medicine, VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Andrew R. Hoffman

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore

    Ariff T. Bongso

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  1. Li Fu
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These authors contributed equally: Li Fu, Kevin C. J. Yuen

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Fu, L., Yuen, K.C.J., Tint, A.N. et al. Association of decreased sperm motility and increased seminal plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-2, and PSA levels in infertile men. Endocrine 74, 698–706 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-021-02823-w

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