The effect of alpha-difluromethylornithine and tartaric acid on sperm count, seminal gamma GT, FSH, LH, testosterone and steroid excretion in patients with chronic prostatitis.

The inactivation of ornithine decarboxylase, a polyamine biosynthetic enzyme, by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (alpha-DFMO) was studied in patients with chronic non-suppurative prostatitis. Partial clinical response and remission of gross hematospermia were observed after 18 g/day alpha-DFMO, when administered orally for 1 month. The determination of gamma-glutamyltransferase, LH, Testosterone in semen and also of sperm motility and vitality appeared distinctly changed in alpha-DFMO treated patients, indicating a significant effect on the activity of the prostate. -- A 16% decrease of hematocrit and hemoglobin in 2 out of 10 patients was reversible 2 months after stopping the therapy. The placebo, which was identified mainly as tartaric acid after termination of the study showed similar clinical response and change of seminal parameters. The modulation of sperm count, seminal gamma GT, LH and testosterone was correlated to the known inhibition of prostatic acid phosphatase by tartaric acid in vitro.