Biochemical Hormone Parameters in Seminal and Blood Plasma Samples Correlate With Histopathologic Properties of Testicular Biopsy in Azoospermic Patients

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between histopathologic patterns of testicular biopsy and biochemical semen and blood plasma parameters, including neutral a-glucosidase (NAG), fructose, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and prolactin (PRL) in patients with azoospermia.Materials and MethodsA total of 471 azoospermic patients with definitive pathologic diagnosis were enrolled in this study. Six biochemical parameters, including 2 seminal (NAG and fructose) and 4 blood (FSH, LH, testosterone, and PRL) plasma markers, were analyzed.ResultsNAG, fructose, FSH, and LH levels were significantly higher in patients with Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) syndrome and severe hypospermatogenesis than in those with normal spermatogenesis or mild hypospermatogenesis (P <.05). In addition, NAG levels positively correlated with fructose amounts in azoospermic patients (P <.05); a significant correlation between FSH and LH levels was also observed in azoospermic patients. Furthermore, PRL levels were higher in SCO syndrome patients compared with subjects showing normal spermatogenesis and the levels positively correlated with NAG, FSH, and LH amounts. However, testosterone levels in SCO syndrome patients were significantly reduced compared with individuals having normal spermatogenesis.ConclusionThe levels of biochemical parameters in seminal (NAG and fructose) and blood (FSH, LH, testosterone, and PRL) plasma samples correlate with the histologic diagnosis in azoospermic patients, providing potential benefits in predicting the pathologic diagnosis of male infertility.