Measurement of the pregnancy-associated proteins, placental protein 14 and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A in human seminal plasma.

The pregnancy-associated and placental proteins PP14 and PAPP-A have been measured in human seminal plasma from normal men. PP14 was a significant protein constituent in most seminal plasma samples; sometimes comprising over 2.5% of the total protein content. The concentration of PP14 in seminal plasma from men with oligospermia was in the reference range of this protein derived from values measured in normal men. However, about 14% of samples from vasectomized subjects contained concentrations of PP14 less than normal. It was found that the concentration of PAPP-A in seminal plasma from vasectomized men and men with oligospermia also fell within the reference range for this protein. However, the concentration of PAPP-A in seminal plasma was significantly higher in those subjects whose sperm motility was above 60% than in those with a lower percentage motility, suggesting a possible role of this protein in sperm function.