The evaluation of markers of prostatic function.

The concentrations of three secretory proteins of the human prostate, including prostatic secretory protein of 94 amino acid residues (PSP94), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in semen from a collective of patients suffering from various inflammatory diseases of the genital tract. In addition, levels of the conventional markers citrate, glucosidase and fructose were determined. As compared with semen from men exhibiting no inflammatory condition, only levels of glucosidase in cases of epididymitis and concentrations of PSP94 in the collective suffering from prostatitis showed significant reductions. The changes in the secretion of PSA, PAP, fructose and citrate in the semen of patients with inflammation of genital tract tissue were not significant at the 95% range of confidence.