Relationship between substances in seminal plasma and Acrobeads Test∗ results

ObjectiveTo asses the effects of seminal plasma on sperm function.DesignRetrospective case–control study.SettingUniversity hospital.Patient(s)One hundred fourteen infertile men.Intervention(s)Acrobeads Test scores (0–4) and measurement of interleukin (IL)-6, soluble IL-6 receptor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), transforming growth factor-βI, superoxide dismutase, calcitonin, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels in seminal plasma.Main Outcome Measure(s)Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the concentrations of substances as a nonparametric test for differences among Acrobeads Test scores and a multivariable logistic regression model to find independent risk factors associated with abnormal Acrobeads Test results.Result(s)The Acrobeads Test score was 0 for 7 samples, 1 for 20 samples, 2 for 18 samples, 3 for 28 samples, and 4 for 41 samples. Age, abstinence period, and semen parameters, except for sperm motility and percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology, had no effect on the Acrobeads Test results. Concentrations of IGF-I and MIF were significantly higher in patients with abnormal Acrobeads Test results. Multivariate analysis indicated that MIF and IGF-I were significantly associated with abnormal Acrobeads Test results (scores 0 to 1).Conclusion(s)Although further studies are needed, IGF-I and MIF in seminal plasma may have negative effects on sperm function.