Biomedical subjects

S Arakawa

Publications and source records attributed to S Arakawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Elevation of serum levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor is associated with disease progression and prognosis in patients with prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Several investigators have revealed that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) are overexpressed in serum as well as in tumor tissues in patients with various types of cancer. In this study, we examined whether the serum levels of uPA and uPAR could be used as predictors of the progression and prognosis of prostate cancer. METHODS: Serum levels of uPA and uPAR in 54 healthy controls, 62 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and 72 patients with prostate cancer were measured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The mean serum levels of uPA and uPAR in patients with prostate cancer were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and patients with BPH. Furthermore, the serum uPA and uPAR levels in prostate cancer patients with metastasis were significantly elevated compared with those in patients without metastasis. Among patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, the serum levels of uPA and uPAR in patients with pathologically organ-confined disease were significantly lower than in those with advanced disease. The overall survival rate of prostate cancer patients with elevated serum levels of either uPA or uPAR, or of both, was significantly lower than that of patients with normal serum levels of uPA and uPAR. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the elevation of serum levels of either uPA or uPAR, or of both, could be used as new predictors of progression and prognosis in patients with prostate cancer.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Conservative therapy for stage T1b, grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and intravesical instillation for pT1bG3 transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. METHODS: Between May 1984 and May 1997, 45 patients with pT1bG3 transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder underwent TURBT and intravesical instillation with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or other anticancer agents. Random biopsy was carried out in 37 patients. The recurrence-free survival rate was determined by tumor size, number of tumors, lymphovascular invasion, and drugs used for intravesical instillation. The median follow-up period was 63 months (range 4 to 145) after the initial TURBT. RESULTS: Of 37 patients who underwent random biopsy, concomitant carcinoma in situ was detected in 18 patients (48.6%). The incidence of concomitant CIS was significantly higher in patients with multiple tumors (P = 0.029). Vesical recurrence was noted in 16 patients (35.6%). The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 88.5%, 66.7%, and 66.7%, respectively. Progression (muscular invasion) occurred in only 2 patients (4.4%). Total cystectomy was performed in 4 patients, including the 2 patients with progressive disease, and 2 patients with recurrent CIS that resisted BCG therapy. None of the patients died of bladder cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that aggressive attempts at initial or subsequent TURBT combined with BCG therapy achieved good control of pT1bG3 transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Elevation of serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor as a new predictor of recurrence and disease progression in patients with superficial urothelial cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in patients with urothelial cancer could be used as a predictor of recurrence and disease progression. METHODS: Serum levels of VEGF in 51 healthy controls and 135 patients with urothelial cancer (81 superficial and 54 invasive cancers) were measured using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay, and the results were analyzed with respect to several clinicopathologic factors. RESULTS: Significant differences in the serum VEGF level were observed between healthy controls and patients with superficial urothelial cancer (34+/-12 pg/mL versus 49+/-27 pg/mL, P<0.001) and between healthy controls and patients with invasive cancer (34+/-12 pg/mL versus 51+/-35 pg/mL, P<0.001), whereas there was no significant difference in the serum VEGF level between superficial and invasive cancers (49+/-27 pg/mL versus 51+/-35 pg/mL, P = 0.31). Among patients with superficial cancer, the disease-free survival rate of patients with elevated serum levels of VEGF was significantly lower than that of patients with normal levels (P<0.05). The progression-free survival rate of superficial cancer patients with elevated serum levels of VEGF was also significantly lower than that of patients with normal levels (P<0.01). In addition, Cox's multivariate analysis revealed that the elevation of serum VEGF level was strongly associated with disease-free survival and progression-free survival in patients with superficial cancer (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the elevation of serum VEGF level could be used as a new independent predictor of recurrence and disease progression in patients with superficial urothelial cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Expression of MAGE genes in testicular germ cell tumors.

OBJECTIVES: Some of the MAGE gene family that encode tumor-rejection antigens recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes are expressed at the mRNA level in various malignant tumors. However, these genes are silent in normal tissues, except in the testis and placenta. It is therefore important to understand how MAGE gene expression changes with malignant transformation of the testis. We investigated the expression of MAGE-1, -2, -3, and -4 genes at the mRNA level in testicular germ cell tumors. METHODS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for MAGE genes was performed using 32 testicular germ cell tumor specimens. RESULTS: MAGE-1, -2, -3, and -4 mRNA was detected in 16 (72%), 15 (68%), 18 (82%), and 17 (77%) of 22 patients with pure seminoma or mixed type with seminomatous elements. MAGE-1 , -2, -3, and -4 mRNA was found in 2 (20%), 5 (50%), 4 (40%), and 4 (40%) of 10 patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT). The expression rate of MAGE-1, -3, and -4 mRNA was significantly higher in patients with seminomatous elements than that in those with NSGCT. MAGE expression did not correlate with disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: MAGE genes are more preserved in seminoma than in NSGCT. This suggests that seminoma has traits more similar to normal testis than does NSGCT.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Overexpression of Bcl-2 enhances metastatic potential of human bladder cancer cells.

We investigated the effect of Bcl-2 expression on the metastatic process of bladder cancer cells by using the Bcl-2-transfected human bladder cancer cell lines (KoTCC-1/BH) and the control vector only-transfected cell line (KoTCC-1/C), which were generated in our previous study (Miyake et al (1998) Oncogene 16: 933-934). When they were injected intravenously into athymic nude mice, KoTCC-1/BH formed more than three times as many tumour nodules in the lungs as did KoTCC-1/C. In addition, tumour progression, including lymph node metastasis and haemorrhagic ascites, was observed to be more advanced after the implantation of KoTCC-1/BH cells into the bladder wall of nude mice than after implantation of KoTCC-1/C cells. These enhanced malignant progression of KoTCC-1/BH cells were well correlated with anti-apoptotic activity under anchorage-independent conditions in in vitro experimental models. In contrast, there were no significant differences among these cell lines in their growth rates both in vitro and in vivo, invasive ability and cell motility. These findings suggest that, if it is overexpressed, Bcl-2 prolongs cell survival under unfavourable conditions encountered in the metastatic process, resulting in the enhanced metastatic potential of bladder cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Outcome of precise vesicourethral anastomosis following retropubic radical prostatectomy using a Foley catheter.

PURPOSE: In order to evaluate precise anastomosis using a Foley catheter, complications following radical retropubic prostatectomy were examined. METHODS: Twenty-one patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy. Precise vesicourethral anastomosis was performed, visualizing the urethral stump by raising up the urogenital diaphragm using a Foley catheter. Complications, such as prolonged urinary extravasation and temporary urinary retention, were checked when the catheter was removed. Incontinence was evaluated both within 6 weeks and more than 6 weeks after operation. Anastomotic and urethral strictures were also checked during follow up. RESULTS: The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 47 months (mean (+/- SD) 22.0 +/- 12.1 months). Eighteen of 21 patients (85.7%) achieved continence after the operation. However, two patients still had stress incontinence and one patient had mild incontinence. Neither prolonged urinary extravasation nor temporally urinary retention were observed. Anastomotic and urethral stricture were not experienced during follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Precise anastomosis using a Foley catheter is technically easy and useful, even for relatively inexperienced urologists, to perform. Patients can often achieve continence following this procedure.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Clinical outcome of microsurgery for obstructive azoospermia.

BACKGROUND: Recent technical advances in microscopy have greatly improved the reconstruction of the seminal tract in cases of obstructive azoospermia. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical outcome of 28 patients with obstructive azoospermia who underwent microsurgical reconstruction (i.e. vasovasostomy or unilateral epididymovasostomy). Diagnoses included postvasectomy (n = 9), childhood inguinal herniorrhaphy (n = 10) and cases of unknown cause (n = 9). Six of the unknown cases proved to be inoperable. We analyzed the outcome of the surgical reconstructions of operable cases according to the causes of obstruction, duration of obstruction, quality of the fluid obtained from the distal seminal tract (concentration, morphology and motility of sperm) and the histologic findings of the testis. RESULTS: The surgical outcome was analyzed with regard to the incidence of patency and pregnancy. The incidence of patency achieved in nine vasectomy cases was 89%, while the incidence of pregnancy was 44%. In contrast, the incidence of patency in the nine operable cases with herniorrhaphy was 44%, while the pregnancy rate was 0%. Of four cases of unknown cause who underwent epididymovasostomy, the incidence of patency was 100% and the incidence of pregnancy was 75%. The outcomes were worse in post-vasectomy cases with long-term obstruction of more than 10 years; however, this was not statistically significant. The outcome was significantly worse in cases with low sperm concentrations. There was no significant relationship between histologic findings and surgical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical outcome of vasovasostomy of postherniorrhaphy cases was significantly worse than that of post-vasectomy cases. With regard to epididymovasostomy, a unilateral repair was clinically evaluated.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Klinefelter's syndrome in the male infertility clinic.

The clinical features of patients with Klinefelter's syndrome attending a male infertility clinic have been investigated in order to consider their assisted reproduction treatment options. Over 12 years, a total of 148 patients with sterility due to azoospermia had Klinefelter's syndrome. Eight patients were shown by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) on metaphase spreads to be mosaic (46,XY/47,XXY), and 140 patients showed only 47,XXY. Small testes were observed in 95% of patients and gynaecomastia was seen in 12.4%. Half of the patients showed hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, while others showed normogonadism (usually hypergonadotrophic). Spermatozoa were observed in semen from one patient with mosaicism and one without. Three-colour FISH revealed hyperploidy in 2.7% and 2.3% of these spermatozoa respectively. Multiple-site testicular biopsies in five recent patients were performed and yielded a specimen with round and elongated spermatids in one patient with 47,XXY karyotype. This sample was cryopreserved for future intracytoplasmic sperm injection. At follow-up, 46% of couples had chosen artificial insemination with donor sperm, and none had chosen adoption. Two patients developed testicular tumours, one a mature teratoma and the other a Leydig cell tumour. Two patients required androgen replacement therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Characterization of a novel methyl-accepting chemotaxis gene, dmcB, from the oral spirochete Treponema denticola.

Immediately downstream from the previously isolated Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 prtB gene coding for a chymotrypsinlike protease activity, an open reading frame, ORF3, was identified which shared significant homology with the highly conserved domains (HCDs) of bacterial methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs). Nucleotide sequencing of this ORF revealed that the gene would code for a protein with a size of approximately 41 kDa. In addition, this sequence contained a domain which was virtually identical to the HCD of a recently characterized MCP, DmcA, of strain 35405. Therefore, this ORF was named dmcB. Northern blot analysis suggested that dmcB was part of an operon structure containing prtB. Insertional inactivation of dmcB utilizing an ermF-ermAM cassette resulted in a mutant with decreased chemoattraction toward nutrient supplements. In addition, the mutant displayed an altered pattern of methylated proteins under conditions of chemotaxis. Inactivation of the dmcB gene also attenuated the methylation of the DmcA protein. These results suggest that the dmcB gene codes for an MCP in T. denticola which may interact with other MCPs in these organisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Elevation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor densities as new predictors of disease progression and prognosis in men with prostate cancer.

We examined whether two newly defined parameters, the density of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAD) and the density of its receptor (uPARD), which were determined by dividing the serum levels of uPA and uPAR by the prostate volume, respectively, could be used as predictors of the progression and prognosis of prostate cancer (PC). Serum levels of uPA and uPAR in 40 healthy controls, 70 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and 80 patients with PC were measured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay, and prostate volume was measured by ultrasonography. The mean levels of uPAD and uPARD in patients with PC were significantly higher than those in healthy controls and patients with BPH. Furthermore, the uPAD and uPARD levels in PC patients with metastasis were significantly elevated compared with those in patients without metastasis. Among patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, the levels of uPAD and uPARD in patients with pathologically organ-confined disease were significantly lower than in those with advanced disease. The overall survival rate of PC cancer patients with elevated levels of either uPAD or uPARD, or of both, was significantly lower than that of patients with normal levels of uPAD and uPARD. In addition, Cox's multivariate analysis revealed that the elevation of uPAD or uPARD level, or of both, was strongly associated with overall survival in PC patients. These findings suggest that the elevation of uPAD or uPARD, or of both, could be used as new predictors of progression and prognosis in patients with PC.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Assisted reproduction technology for patients with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens.

PURPOSE: We investigate the frequency of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene mutations in Japanese patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, and assess treatment outcomes of assisted reproduction interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 10 Japanese patients with bilateral congenital absence of the vas deferens genetic analysis was performed for known frequent mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene using polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by dot-blot hybridization with the allele-specific oligonucleotide probes and direct sequencing. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection using spermatozoa retrieved from the testes was performed in 7 of the couples. RESULTS: No known mutations of the gene were detected in the patients. However, analysis of the polythymidine tract polymorphism in intron 8 revealed 30% allele frequency of 5T. Pregnancy was achieved in 7 cycles of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using spermatozoa retrieved from the testes. CONCLUSION: The 5T variant in intron 8 polythymidine tract was identified with high allelic frequency in Japanese patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, suggesting that the disease in Japan is also partially caused by this particular mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene. Modern assisted reproduction technology offers an important option for patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Long-term experience with orthotopic reconstruction of the lower urinary tract in women.

PURPOSE: We investigated the long-term outcome of orthotopic neobladders in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At our institutions 8 women have undergone lower urinary tract reconstruction with an orthotopic neobladder and have been followed for more than 4 years. After urethral sparing cystectomy the neobladder was constructed and connected to the native urethra. Late complications were analyzed, and voiding function was evaluated by a pressure flow micturition study and bead-chain cystourethrography. RESULTS: No late complications related to the surgery were noted. Of the 8 patients 7 were completely dry day and night. Four patients with ileal neobladder required clean intermittent catheterization, and hypercontinence might have been caused by downward migration of the neobladder and reduced neobladder pressure at voiding. No recurrence in the native urethra was noted, and all patients were satisfied postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: These results of orthotopic neobladder in women are encouraging. Overall patient satisfaction was excellent. An international collaborative study is necessary to achieve the number of patients required to determine the ideal orthotopic neobladder for women.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Highly specific and sensitive detection of malignancy in urine samples from patients with urothelial cancer by CD44v8-10/CD44v10 competitive RT-PCR.

CD44 is a widely expressed cell surface adhesion molecule in which various isoforms arise from alternative RNA splicing mechanism. Overexpression of specific CD44 splice variant, i.e., CD44v8-10, has been found in several human malignancies and is considered to be associated with tumor progression and metastasis. We have demonstrated a novel molecular approach, CD44v8-10/CD44v10 competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (CC-RT-PCR) for the detection of cancer cells overexpressing CD44v8-10 by the measurement of the transcriptional level of CD44v8-10 relative to that of CD44v10 (v8-10/v10 ratio). In this study, we initially examined the expression of CD44 splice variants in human urothelial cancers and their adjacent normal urinary tissues by RT-PCR. Any CD44 variant isoforms were barely detectable in normal urinary tissues, whereas CD44v8-10 was predominantly expressed in 23 of the 30 (77%) urothelial cancer specimens. We then applied CC-RT-PCR to spontaneously voided urine samples from patients with 80 urothelial cancer and 50 various benign urologic diseases. The CC-RT-PCR analysis revealed that all of the samples associated with benign diseases presented a predominant expression of the CD44v10 transcript (the v8-10/v10 ratios = 0.00-0.87), whereas 62 of the 80 samples associated with urothelial cancers mostly expressed the CD44v8-10 transcript (the v8-10/v10 ratios > 1.00). In addition, the positivity rate obtained by the CC-RT-PCR analysis was high regardless of the pathological grade of the urothelial cancers, although the sensitivity of the cytological examination declined with decreasing tumor grade. Our findings suggest strongly that CC-RT-PCR is a non-invasive useful tool for the diagnosis of urine samples from patients with urothelial cancer.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 and its density in men with prostate cancer as a new predictor of disease extension.

We examined whether the serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) level and MMP-2 density could be predictors of the development and extension of prostate cancer. Serum samples were collected before any clinical treatment from 98 patients with prostate cancer and from 76 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Control sera were obtained from 70 healthy men. The serum level of MMP-2 was determined by 1-step enzyme immunoassay. A newly defined MMP-2 density parameter was determined by dividing the serum level of MMP-2 by the prostate volume, which was measured by ultrasonography. The mean serum level of MMP-2 in prostate cancer patients was significantly higher than in the control and BPH groups. Furthermore, the serum MMP-2 levels in prostate cancer patients with metastasis were highly elevated compared with those without metastases. The MMP-2 density in pathologically organ-confined prostate cancer was significantly higher than that in BPH. There was a statistically significant difference in the MMP-2 density between pT2N0M0 and pT1N0M0 prostate cancers. Moreover, the serum MMP-2 level correlated well with the clinical course of prostate cancer with bone metastasis. Our results suggest that MMP-2 plays an important role in the development and extension of prostate cancer and that the serum level of MMP-2 and the MMP-2 density indicate prostate cancer extension and are, therefore, useful for the followup of prostate cancer patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Overexpression of Bcl-2 in bladder cancer cells inhibits apoptosis induced by cisplatin and adenoviral-mediated p53 gene transfer.

To investigate the effects of the expression of Bcl-2 protein in bladder cancer on the apoptosis induced by cisplatin or adenoviral-mediated p53 gene (Ad5CMV-p53) transfer, we transfected the bcl-2 gene into KoTCC-1, a human bladder cancer cell line that does not express the Bcl-2 protein. The Bcl-2-transfected KoTCC-1 (KoTCC-1/B) exhibited significantly higher resistance to both cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 transfer than did either the parental KoTCC-1 (KoTCC-1/P) or the vector-only transfected cell line (KoTCC-1/C). The flow cytometric analysis of the propidium iodide-stained nuclei and DNA fragmentation analysis after cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53 treatment revealed DNA degradation in both KoTCC-1/P and KoTCC-1/C, whereas KoTCC1/B showed a marked inhibition of DNA degradation. Following the treatment with cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53, the accumulation of p53 protein was highly detectable for a long period in KoTCC-1/B compared to that in KoTTC-1/P and KoTCC-1/C. Furthermore, the cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 treatments each reduced the volume of the subcutaneous tumors established in nude mice formed by KoTCC-1/P or KoTCC-1/C; in contrast, their reductive effects on the tumors formed by KoTCC-1/B were significantly suppressed. The intraperitoneal tumor cell implantation model revealed that the prognoses of mice injected with KoTCC-1/B were significantly inferior to those of the mice injected with either KoTCC-1/P or KoTCC-1/C after treatment with cisplatin or Ad5CMV-p53. These findings suggest that the expression of Bcl-2 in bladder cancer cells interferes with the therapeutic effects of cisplatin and Ad5CMV-p53 through the inhibition of the apoptotic pathway.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed1998

Expression of basic fibroblast growth factor is associated with resistance to cisplatin in a human bladder cancer cell line.

To clarify the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in the drug resistance of bladder cancer, we transfected the FGF-2 gene into HT1376, an FGF-2 negative human bladder cancer cell line. The FGF-2-transfected cell lines exhibited three- to four-fold higher resistant potential to cisplatin than the vector-only transfected control cell lines in vitro. When cisplatin was injected intraperitoneally after s.c. implantation of HT1376 sublines into nude mice, FGF-2 transfectants formed tumors about twice as large as did controls. In contrast, there was no significant difference in either cell proliferation in vitro or tumor growth in vivo among these cell lines without cisplatin treatment. Furthermore, DNA degradation following cisplatin treatment was markedly suppressed in FGF-2 transfectants compared to control cells. These results suggest that the expression of the FGF-2 gene plays an important role in the acquisition of the cisplatin-resistant phenotype of bladder cancer, probably through the protection against cisplatin-induced apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Influence of cytokines and growth factors on matrix metalloproteinase-2 production and invasion of human renal cancer.

This study evaluated the influence of cytokines and growth factors on the production of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2, 72-kDa type IV collagenase, gelatinase A) and invasion of the human renal cell carcinoma (HRCC) cell line KG-2. The cells were treated with cytokines and growth factors, and the gelatiolytic activity and in vitro invasion were examined. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) stimulated MMP-2 production by KG-2 cells to 2.0-, 4.84- and 4.53-fold that of the untreated group at 0.1, 1.0 and 10 ng/ml, respectively. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) at very low concentrations of 10 pg/ml and 100 pg/ml stimulated enzyme production in KG-2 cells by 1.74- and 2.83-fold, respectively. In contrast, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) decreased MMP-2 production by KG-2 cells at 10 and 100 U/ml to 69% and 41% of the level in the untreated group, respectively. At those concentrations, IFN-gamma did not cause cytostasis in KG-2 cells. Moreover, bFGF and TGF-beta1 (low concentrations) stimulated in vitro invasion of KG-2 cells, but IFN-gamma decreased the invasive activity, which was well correlated with the levels of MMP-2. However, the expression of MMP-2 mRNA of KG-2 cells treated with 10 ng/ml bFGF, 100 pg/ml TGF-beta1 and 100 U/ml IFN-gamma was shown to be 3.8-, 3.4- and 0.7-fold, respectively, those in untreated groups. Thus the production of MMP-2 in HRCC was influenced by cytokines and growth factors, and MMP-2 plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of certain types of HRCC.

Cytokines↗

PubMed1998

Stem cell factor in human seminal plasma as a marker for spermatogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the level of stem cell factor (SCF) in human seminal plasma to determine whether SCF may be useful in evaluating the ability to produce sperm and search the role of SCF in the testes. METHODS: We measured the level of SCF in seminal plasma obtained from 108 males, including idiopathic azoospermia due to germ cell aplasia (n = 10), oligospermia (n = 50), asthenospermia (n = 31), and normospermia (n = 1 7). The expression of SCF messenger ribonucleic acid in the human testis was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The correlation between its level and clinical findings was also evaluated. RESULTS: RT-PCR showed a larger form that encoded the soluble protein and a smaller form that encoded the membrane-associated form of SCF in the human testis. The similar ratio of the larger form to the smaller one was observed both in the testis of normal and oligospermic men. The level of SCF is significantly correlated with the sperm count (r = 0.214; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The level of SCF in seminal plasma appeared to predict the ability to produce sperm. Thus, this factor may play an important role in spermatogenesis.

Humans↗