Abstract
Semen ejaculates of adult phenylketonurics (PKUs) were studied. Four adult classical PKUs had significantly decreased volumes of semen and sperm counts compared to four controls. A significant inverse relationship was found between serum phenylalanine concentrations and volumes of semen as well as serum phenylalanine concentrations and sperm counts of the PKUs. Amino acid analyses and light and electron microscopic studies of the semen did not reveal any specific abnormality in the PKUs. These findings suggest that the severity of the metabolic derangement in male PKUs manifested in serum phenylalanine concentration correlates with decreased volumes of semen and sperm count.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 427-434 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Biochemical medicine |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1981 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank Connie Waverin, M.T. (ASCP), Mrs. Judy Isaacson, M.T.. and Zoltan Pos-alaki, M.D., for their assistance. Special appreciation and thanks are extended to the four PKU men, especially John McHale, for without their understanding and support this study would not have been possible. This study was supported in part by the Minnesota Medical Foundation and by the Gretchen Harrison Foundation.
Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.