Seminal plasma concentrations of Anti‐Müllerian hormone and inhibin B predict motile sperm recovery from cryopreserved semen in asthenozoospermic men: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

SUMMARYThe rate of motile sperm recovery after cryopreservation is very variable and difficult to predict. Anti-M€ ullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B are produced by Sertoli cells and released into the seminal plasma, where they could be functional markers of spermatogenesis and sperm resistance to thermal stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether seminal plasma levels of AMH and inhibin B predict sperm recovery after cryopreservation. The study included 153 men enrolled prospectively during a semen analysis. The cohort was stratified by the fresh semen characteristics into: normal (n = 52), high sperm count (n = 55), asthenozoospermia (n = 23), and oligozoospermia (n = 23). The main outcome measure was motile sperm recovery rate, defined as post-thaw total motile sperm count 9 100/pre-freezing total motile sperm count. In men with asthenozoospermia there was a significant correlation between motile sperm recovery rate and the pre-freezing concentrations of AMH (r = 0.522, p < 0.05) and inhibin B (0.471, p < 0.05). In this group, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of AMH and inhibin B for prediction of ≥50% motile sperm recovery after cryopreservation were, respectively, 0.808 and 0.638. AMH was particularly useful, with sensitivity of 0.85, specificity of 0.80, positive predictive value of 0.84 and negative predictive value of 0.80. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of inhibin B for the same outcome were, respectively, 0.62, 0.60, 0.67, and 0.55. The median motile sperm recovery rate was 83% when seminal plasma AMH concentration was ≥0.84 ng/mL, vs. 27% when AMH concentration was <0.84 ng/ mL (p < 0.05). In other patient groups, there was no correlation between the two hormone levels in seminal plasma and the motile sperm recovery rate. In conclusion, seminal plasma AMH and inhibin B concentrations correlate with and can be used to predict motile sperm recovery after semen cryopreservation in asthenozoospermic men.

Seminal Plasma Anti-Müllerian Hormone: A Potential AI-Boar Fertility Biomarker?

“…However, AMH production does not completely cease during adult life. It is interesting to note that, after puberty, AMH secretion is higher at the apical pole of the Sertoli cell, towards the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, than basally, towards the interstitium and blood circulation [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. As a result, higher concentrations of this hormone are found in SP in comparison to the serum of males [12,19,20].…”

“…Specifically, this hormone is expressed in Sertoli cells and it is responsible for the regression of the Müllerian ducts in the male fetus [16]. The AMH has been described and quantified in human SP [12][13][14][15][17][18][19][20]. The presence of this hormone in SP is of interest for the study of male reproduction as it has been suggested to provide information regarding the state of spermatogenesis [21].…”

“…In addition, the fact that SP-AMH is able to bind to the sperm surface suggests a role for this hormone on sperm function after ejaculation [22]. However, there is conflicting data in the literature regarding this point, since studies that have been performed in humans have demonstrated that SP-AMH concentration can be positively, negatively, or not related with sperm quantity and quality parameters [13][14][15][17][18][19]. Although the relationship between SP-AMH and fertility in humans is also controversial, most of the studies have revealed differences in SP-AMH concentration between fertile and infertile men, with the latter showing lower SP-AMH concentrations [12][13][14].…”

Inhibin as a reproductive biomarker part 2. Clinical significance of inhibins in reproductive medicine

“…Пониженную концентрацию ингибина В выявляют у мужчин с олигоспермией и азооспермией. Однако в ряде исследований не обнаружено снижения уровня ингибина В в сперме мужчин с олигозооспермией, что указывает на то, что секреция ингибина в просвет семенного канала лишь частично отражает сперматогенную активность [73]. Кроме того, ингибин В и АМГ выявляют в сперме значительной части мужчин с необструктивной азооспермией, включая тех, у которых сперматозоиды не могут быть извлечены при биопсии яичка [70,74].…”

“…Эти показатели коррелируют с параметрами спермы у пациентов с олигоастеноспермией [71]. Известно о применении уровня ингибина В и АМГ для прогнозирования успешного восстановления сперматозоидов после криоконсервации спермы у мужчин с астенозооспермией [73], что позволит использовать уровень ингибина В и АМГ в качестве потенциального прогности- Повышение уровня ингибинов у мужчин иногда может быть связано с наличием герминативных опухолей.…”