AB197. The prevalence of FSH autoantibodies in the aging male

AIM: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of FSH autoantibodies in aging male and further observe the correlation between FSH autoantibodies and reproductive hormones. METHODS: The serum samples were collected from 192 normal men whose mean age was 49.47±18.51 (range, 18-88) years and the level of sera FSH, LH, T, SHBG and FSH antibody was detected by RIA and ELISA assay, respectively. Free testosterone index (FTI) was analyzed based on the serum level of total T and SHBG. RESULTS: The positive incidence of anti-sera against FSH in the group, aged 60-89 years, was significantly higher than that in the group, aged 18-59 years (20.00%, 14/70 vs. 9.84%, 12/122) (P<0.05). There was positive correlation between age and the concentration of serum FSH or LH (r=0.306, P=0.0001; r=0.246, P=0.002). Meanwhile, a negative correlation between age and the level of serum T or FTI was also found (r=–0.461, P=0.0001; r=–0.407, P=0.0001). The FSH autoantibodies in different age men do not have effect on the level of serum LH, T, SHBG and FTI. However, in the group aged 60-89 years, the level of serum FSH in the positive FSH autoantibodies samples was lower than that in the negative samples (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Aged men were associated with higher incidence of FSH autoantibodies. The level of serum FSH in aged man could be affected by FSH autoantibodies. Anti-sera against FSH in men might be involved in a certain physiologic process of male aging.