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Abstract
Human seminal fluid is a complex mixture of secretions originated from epididymis and the male accessory sex glands. It contains a variety of both inorganic and organic components, among which proteins are a major part of the high molecular-mass substances. In this study, 83 human seminal plasma samples were analyzed using a combined Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach to discriminate patients in relation to semen characteristics and/or conditions affecting the fertility status. Results showed a discrimination between patients with leukocytospermia and with the concomitant presence of varicocele/ex varicocele and leukocytospermia. Patients with testicular cancer, necrozoospermia, and azoospermia were separated from the other patient clusters. In addition, a differentiation of semen quality was also possible. This study represents to first use of sperm parameters together with NMR data as variables in the PCA analysis. Furthermore, this methodology allows the identification of the metabolites which play the most important role in identifying differences among human seminal plasma samples.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the University of Siena.
Declarations of interest
The authors declare that there were no conflicts of interest. The authors report no declarations of interest.
Author contributions
Conceived and designed the experiments: CB, GC SM, EM; Performed the experiments: CB, GC, EM, AD; Analyzed the data: CB, AD, GC, EM; Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: CR; Wrote the manuscript: CB, GC, EM, CR.
Notes
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