andrologia 11 (1): 43-50 (1979)
Received June 1, 1978
Centro de Investigaciones en Reproduccih Facultad de Medicina, Buenos AireslArgentina
Biochemical Changes of the Human Semen Produced by Chlorambucil, Testosterone Propionate and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Administration* J.C. CALAMERA, M.C. MORGENFELD, R.E. MANCINI f and 0. VILAR
Introduction Several publications in the last years have pointed out to the deleterious action exerted by cytostatic drugs on human spermatogenesis (Heller et al. - 1963; Gomes 1970; Fairley et al. - 1972; Richter et al. - 1970; Vilar - 1974), reflected either as severe oligozoospermia or as azoospermia with sterility resulting. The existence of a reducing sugar in human seminal fluid was reported many years ago. Afterwards the substance was shown to be fructose (Mann 1964). Many papers have been devoted to the occurrence.of this substance in human seminal plasma(Mann 1946, Lavieri and Calamera 1970). In men the seminal vesicles are the main source of its production. Citric acid is secreted in men by the prostate. As the production of citric acid and fructose depends on androgens, both fructose and citric acid determinations were proposed as test of androgenic activity (Schirren 1963. Mann 1968). It was considered of interest to verify characteristics in patients with lymphomas under treatment with chlorambucil carrying out both biochemical examination and morphologic studies. Materials and Methods
6 patients with malignant lymphoma were studied. The average age was 32.8 years, the youngest was 18 and the oldest 41. The patients were divided into 2 groups. The 1st Group: This group included 3 patients receiving as only treatment 0.1 to 0.4 mg/ Kg/daily p.0. of chlorambucil {p [bis (2 chloroethyl) amino] phenyl butyric acid). The 2nd Group included the remaining patients which received chlorambucil in a similar way, but the dose received ranged between 900 to 3800 mg with an average of 2233 mg per patient. During treatment they received also either 24000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropins (HCG), or 200 mg of testosterone propionate (TP) during periods of 4 weeks long. The spermatograms and biochemical studies of the seminal plasma were utilized to evaluate the effect of the treatments. The ejaculate was obtained through masturbation preceded by 4 to 6 days of sexual abstinence. Observation of the ejaculate was made within an hour after being obtained. The volume, viscosity, turbidity, pH, concentration of spermatozoa in millions per ml, motility and other cell types were recorded in each case (Schirren - 1971).
*This paper has been supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones, Cientificaos y TBchnicas.
Key words: Chlorambucil- cytostatic - seminal plasma - semen - testosterone - fructose citric acid
-
human chorionic - gonadotropin
J . C . Calamera, M. C. Morgenfeld, R. E. Mancini and 0. W a r
44
t 485
6 50
41 1999270 P n I
m
3
I
]
546228
wo.oi
i
, 1
Fig. 2: Case 2; Same values before and during treatment. andrologia 11 (1979)
Biochemical Changes of the Human Semen
45
102
1 4 3 0 2 14
I 3.g
-+ 7
?
Received June 1, 1978
Centro de Investigaciones en Reproduccih Facultad de Medicina, Buenos AireslArgentina
Biochemical Changes of the Human Semen Produced by Chlorambucil, Testosterone Propionate and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Administration* J.C. CALAMERA, M.C. MORGENFELD, R.E. MANCINI f and 0. VILAR
Introduction Several publications in the last years have pointed out to the deleterious action exerted by cytostatic drugs on human spermatogenesis (Heller et al. - 1963; Gomes 1970; Fairley et al. - 1972; Richter et al. - 1970; Vilar - 1974), reflected either as severe oligozoospermia or as azoospermia with sterility resulting. The existence of a reducing sugar in human seminal fluid was reported many years ago. Afterwards the substance was shown to be fructose (Mann 1964). Many papers have been devoted to the occurrence.of this substance in human seminal plasma(Mann 1946, Lavieri and Calamera 1970). In men the seminal vesicles are the main source of its production. Citric acid is secreted in men by the prostate. As the production of citric acid and fructose depends on androgens, both fructose and citric acid determinations were proposed as test of androgenic activity (Schirren 1963. Mann 1968). It was considered of interest to verify characteristics in patients with lymphomas under treatment with chlorambucil carrying out both biochemical examination and morphologic studies. Materials and Methods
6 patients with malignant lymphoma were studied. The average age was 32.8 years, the youngest was 18 and the oldest 41. The patients were divided into 2 groups. The 1st Group: This group included 3 patients receiving as only treatment 0.1 to 0.4 mg/ Kg/daily p.0. of chlorambucil {p [bis (2 chloroethyl) amino] phenyl butyric acid). The 2nd Group included the remaining patients which received chlorambucil in a similar way, but the dose received ranged between 900 to 3800 mg with an average of 2233 mg per patient. During treatment they received also either 24000 IU of human chorionic gonadotropins (HCG), or 200 mg of testosterone propionate (TP) during periods of 4 weeks long. The spermatograms and biochemical studies of the seminal plasma were utilized to evaluate the effect of the treatments. The ejaculate was obtained through masturbation preceded by 4 to 6 days of sexual abstinence. Observation of the ejaculate was made within an hour after being obtained. The volume, viscosity, turbidity, pH, concentration of spermatozoa in millions per ml, motility and other cell types were recorded in each case (Schirren - 1971).
*This paper has been supported by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones, Cientificaos y TBchnicas.
Key words: Chlorambucil- cytostatic - seminal plasma - semen - testosterone - fructose citric acid
-
human chorionic - gonadotropin
J . C . Calamera, M. C. Morgenfeld, R. E. Mancini and 0. W a r
44
t 485
6 50
41 1999270 P n I
m
3
I
]
546228
wo.oi
i
, 1
Fig. 2: Case 2; Same values before and during treatment. andrologia 11 (1979)
Biochemical Changes of the Human Semen
45
102
1 4 3 0 2 14
I 3.g
-+ 7
?
