Figure 3
From: Decreased levels of genuine large free hCG alpha in men presenting with abnormal semen analysis
Reduced hCG and free hCGα seminal plasma levels in men with reduced sperm count. (A) Patients with reduced sperm count (n = 23) showed significantly lower free holo-hCG levels compared with normozoospermic controls (n = 16), while (B) free hCGβ levels were not affected. (C) Similar to holo-hCG, free hCGα levels were significantly lower in men with reduced sperm count, resulting in (D) hCGα/hCG ratios comparable to normozoospermic men, while men with asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia or asthenoteratozoospermia (AS, T, AST; n = 6) showed reduced hCGα/hCG ratios. Red bars indicated mean ± SEM. (A-C) Statistical significance was calculated by Student's t-test (* P < 0.05).