Human Reproduction, Vol 13, 591-595, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
AM Mahmoud, J Geslevich, J Kint, C Depuydt, L Huysse, A Zalata and FH Comhaire
Measurement of alpha-glucosidase (alpha-GLUC) activity by means of a simple
colorimetric test using a commercial kit (EpiScreen; FertiPro, Lotenhulle,
Belgium) yielded results that were strongly correlated with the values
obtained for the neutral iso-enzyme measured by a fluorimetric reference
method (r=0.85, P=0.003, n=13). The former method was characterized by a
low intra- and inter-coefficient of variation (6.6 and 4.3% respectively).
Vasectomized men with azoospermia (n=27) had a significantly lower
alpha-GLUC activity in semen than vasectomized men with residual
spermatozoa present (n=11, P < 0.01) and men with azoospermia of primary
testicular origin (n=33, P < 0.01). Receiver operating curve (ROC)
analysis showed alpha-GLUC measurement to be reasonably accurate in
differentiation between cases with obstructive versus testicular
azoospermia at criterion value 13.5 U/l (sensitivity=82%, specificity=
70%). In cases with spermatozoa present, alpha-GLUC activity and output per
ejaculate were positively correlated with sperm concentration (r=0.53 and
0.38, n=472), linear velocity (r=0.35 and 0.30, n=224), curvilinear
velocity (r=0.32 and r=0.29, n=224), semen adenosine triphosphate (r=0.35
and 0.26, n=64), the concentration of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (r=0.31
and 0.29, n=74), and gamma-glutamyltransferase activity (r=0.62 and 0.32,
n=275) in seminal plasma. The activity of alpha-GLUC was inversely
correlated with ROS generation after 12-myristate, 13-acetate phorbol ester
stimulation (r=-0.27, n=104), and both alpha-GLUC activity and total output
were inversely correlated with the concentration of peroxidase- positive
white blood cells among samples with > or =1x10(6)/ml of these cells
(r=-0.30 and -0.19, n=165). It is concluded that simple photometric
measurement of alpha-GLUC activity in seminal plasma reflects the
functional state of the epididymis and may be helpful for the differential
diagnosis of certain cases with azoospermia.
ARTICLES
Seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase activity and male infertility
Assiut University Hospital, Department of Dermatology and Andrology, Egypt.
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