Levels of luteinizing hormone in semen of fertile and infertile men and possible significance of luteinizing hormone in sperm metabolism.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were measured in the seminal plasma of 68 fertile and infertile men. LH levels in the seminal plasma were severalfold higher than those normally found in serum and were significantly higher in oligospermic and normospermic samples than in azoospermic samples. However, no significant difference was observed in LH levels of oligospermic and normospermic men. The effects of LH on fructose utilization, glucose oxidation, and adenyl cyclase activity of spermatozoa were also examined. The results indicate a possible role of seminal plasma LH in sperm motility and metabolism.