A relationship between sperm count and intracellular progesterone, 17α- hydroxyprogesterone, and cortisol concentrations in human spermatozoa

Abstract

In an attempt to determine whether human spermatozoa contain steroid hormones, in this study we have measured the immunoreactive levels of P, 17α-OHP, and F in the extracts of sonicated specimens of sperms obtained as ejaculates from husbands of infertile couples. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that human spermatozoa contain definite amounts of the measured steroids and suggests an association between steroid levels and sperm count. These steroids identified intracellularly in the haploid germ cells may play a role in the molecular events associated with fertilization.