Lysozyme in Seminal Fluid of Healthy Males and Patients with Prostatitis and in Tissues of the Male Uro-Genital Tract

Abstract

The concentration of lysozyme in seminal fluid from 56 patients with chronic prostatitis proved significantly lower than in that from 19 healthy volunteers, viz. 11.3 mg/l and 18.5 mg/l, respectively. Lysozyme was found in homogenate of normal prostatic tissue, in homo-genate of urethra, bladder, ureter and renal pelvis epithelium, in renal medulla and cortex as well as in expressed prostatic fluid and in fluid and homogenate of seminal vesicles. Metacycline treatment reduced the concentration of lysozyme in seminal fluid in two-thirds of the patient group. 50 % of those in whom the concentration of lysozyme decreased had recurrences within a follow-up period of 12 to 18 months. Those patients where the level of lysozyme rose or remained unchanged after metacycline treatment had no recurrences. The significance of lysozyme in the male uro-genital tract, particularly its antibacterial effect, is discussed.