Helicobacter pylori (HP)
infection might have negative effects on the semen parameters of infertile men. We explored the possibility that this
infection can influence systemic and seminal levels of
ghrelin and
obestatin,
hormones mainly produced by the stomach.
Ghrelin and
obestatin exert many activities, including the regulation of reproductive biology, and are present in many organs and fluids, including human semen. In 78 men, we determined HP
infection and
cytotoxin-associated gene A
protein (CagA) status by
enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay and Western blotting, semen quality following World Health Organization guidelines, and
ghrelin and
obestatin levels in the blood stream (47 subjects) and semen by radioimmunoassay. Twenty-seven men (34.6%) were infected (HP+) and 11 out of 27 infected men (40.7%) were seropositive for CagA (CagA+). Sperm motility was significantly reduced in HP+/CagA+ men compared with HP+/CagA- men (P < .01).
Ghrelin semen levels were decreased in HP+ men compared with uninfected individuals (P < .05), whereas they were increased in HP+/CagA+ men compared with HP+/CagA- subjects (P < .01).
Ghrelin semen concentrations in HP+/CagA- men were lower than those measured in uninfected subjects (P < .001). Semen
obestatin concentration was increased, in a nonsignificant manner, in HP+/CagA+ men. The
obestatin levels were approximately 4 times higher than those of
ghrelin in semen and approximately half the levels of
ghrelin in serum specimens of all the analyzed groups. No significant differences were found in systemic levels of
ghrelin and
obestatin in HP+ to uninfected individuals. HP
infection may influence the
ghrelin seminal concentrations, probably as a response to a negative effect of
infection on the semen quality.