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Seminal Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor: A possible role of the conventional clotting system in human semen?

Seminal Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor: A possible role of the conventional clotting system in human semen?
Seminal Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor: A possible role of the conventional clotting system in human semen?
Factor (F) VIII circulates in blood complexed with von Willebrand Factor (vWF). Deficiency or defect accounts for haemophilia A and vWF disease. In blood, FVIII functions as a co-factor for FIXa in the activation of FX. Human semen coagulates and liquefies in a process that resembles and has some links with the conventional haemostatic process. A study elsewhere has detected traces, but not measurable levels, of FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C). In the present study we have assessed FVIII antigen (FVIII:Ag), FVIII:C and vWF antigen (vWF:Ag) levels in 159 semen specimens obtained from sub-fertile (n = 21), normally fertile (n = 38), fertile donors (n = 32), and vasectomized men (n = 57). Seminal FVIII:Ag levels were also measured in a group defined by several parameters derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) fertility criteria, termed 'pooled normal semen parameters' (PNSP). Factor VIII:Ag levels were compared with conventional fertility parameters. In addition, both FVIII:C and vWF:Ag were assessed in a separate group of normal individuals (n = 11). Factor VIII:Ag, FVIII:C and vWF were present and quantifiable in human semen. Factor VIII:Ag levels were significantly lower in vasectomy subjects compared with donors (p = 0.01) or PNSP group (p = 0.01). Several trends taken together suggest an associations between FVIII:Ag and semen quality. Parallel investigations demonstrate FV, FVII, FVIIa, FIX, FIXa, FXa, FXI, FXII, tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in semen. The present report therefore provides further evidence for the presence of a functioning clotting system in human semen.
Factor VIII, von Willebrand Factor, human, seminal plasma, fertility, novel finding, original article
0105-6263
31-38
Lwaleed, B.A.
e7c59131-82ad-4a14-a227-7370e91e3f21
Greenfield, R.
0e1d5234-caf8-403b-8233-a4d9862c67e9
Royle, E.
059ea929-a624-4030-acb0-a6c0814131f0
Birch, B.
7c72315a-eef9-4a28-93b1-dd0282cc0357
Cooper, A.J.
8a21c297-eda3-4479-8e81-1de258c8e2a1
Lwaleed, B.A.
e7c59131-82ad-4a14-a227-7370e91e3f21
Greenfield, R.
0e1d5234-caf8-403b-8233-a4d9862c67e9
Royle, E.
059ea929-a624-4030-acb0-a6c0814131f0
Birch, B.
7c72315a-eef9-4a28-93b1-dd0282cc0357
Cooper, A.J.
8a21c297-eda3-4479-8e81-1de258c8e2a1

Lwaleed, B.A., Greenfield, R., Royle, E., Birch, B. and Cooper, A.J. (2005) Seminal Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor: A possible role of the conventional clotting system in human semen? International Journal of Andrology, 28 (1), 31-38. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2605.2004.00508.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Factor (F) VIII circulates in blood complexed with von Willebrand Factor (vWF). Deficiency or defect accounts for haemophilia A and vWF disease. In blood, FVIII functions as a co-factor for FIXa in the activation of FX. Human semen coagulates and liquefies in a process that resembles and has some links with the conventional haemostatic process. A study elsewhere has detected traces, but not measurable levels, of FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C). In the present study we have assessed FVIII antigen (FVIII:Ag), FVIII:C and vWF antigen (vWF:Ag) levels in 159 semen specimens obtained from sub-fertile (n = 21), normally fertile (n = 38), fertile donors (n = 32), and vasectomized men (n = 57). Seminal FVIII:Ag levels were also measured in a group defined by several parameters derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) fertility criteria, termed 'pooled normal semen parameters' (PNSP). Factor VIII:Ag levels were compared with conventional fertility parameters. In addition, both FVIII:C and vWF:Ag were assessed in a separate group of normal individuals (n = 11). Factor VIII:Ag, FVIII:C and vWF were present and quantifiable in human semen. Factor VIII:Ag levels were significantly lower in vasectomy subjects compared with donors (p = 0.01) or PNSP group (p = 0.01). Several trends taken together suggest an associations between FVIII:Ag and semen quality. Parallel investigations demonstrate FV, FVII, FVIIa, FIX, FIXa, FXa, FXI, FXII, tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in semen. The present report therefore provides further evidence for the presence of a functioning clotting system in human semen.

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More information

Published date: February 2005
Keywords: Factor VIII, von Willebrand Factor, human, seminal plasma, fertility, novel finding, original article

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 18784
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/18784
ISSN: 0105-6263
PURE UUID: d0c4372e-8358-45b5-b0c1-39becbfb92ac

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Date deposited: 20 Jan 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:07

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Contributors

Author: B.A. Lwaleed
Author: R. Greenfield
Author: E. Royle
Author: B. Birch
Author: A.J. Cooper

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