True corrected seminal fructose in male infertility in Nigerians a preliminary study

Abstract

The function of the seminal vesicle is important for fertility. Lowlevel of true corrected seminal fructose has been observed in hypofunction of the seminal vesicles and has been related to male infertility. In Nigeria, published studies on seminal fluid analyses have so far excluded information on seminal fructose. To prospectively determine the true corrected seminal fructose values in Nigerians as it may serve as a cheaper and available alternative for assessing seminal vesicle function, and for overall evaluation, inmale infertility inNigeria. The subjects included patients and volunteers. Seminal fluid collection and analysis were done using theWHO standards. Serum testosterone was also measured in all subjects. Correlation was testedwith the student “t” test and the level significancewas p<0.05. 317 subjects were studied, 20 were azoospermic, 237 were oligospermic, and 60 were normospermic (normal control). Their ages ranged 24-60 years with a mean of 41.55±7.63 years. Mean values of seminal fructose were 154.35±29.52mg/dl in azoospermics, 487.03±87.45mg/dl in oligospermics, and 338.03±86.14mg/dl in normospermics. The normal range of seminal fructose was determined to be 163.13-512.93mg/dl. Mean serum testosterone level of the subjects was 2.47±0.63ng/ml, range '1.3-4.1ng/ml. There was a correlation between true corrected seminal fructose with motile density in normospermics (r=0.32), and itwas strongly sowith oligospermics (r=0.734). Serumtestosteronewas strongly correlatedwith seminal fructose in all groups (r=>0.67). In our environment, true corrected seminal fructosemay be of value in the evaluation of infertility as a biologicalmarker for androgen activity in the reproductive tract, and of seminal vesicular function.

Keywords: True corrected seminal fructose,male infertility