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Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 11, 2919-2923, November 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Quantitative differences in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, but not in MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 or TIMP-2, in seminal plasma of normozoospermic and azoospermic patients

E. Baumgart, S.V. Lenk, S.A. Loening and K. Jung1

Department of Urology, University Hospital Charité, Humboldt University, Schumannstr. 20/21, D –10117 Berlin, Germany

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), have been detected in reproductive tissues and seminal plasma. The purpose of this study was to quantify MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in human seminal plasma and to evaluate their association with sperm. METHODS: Seminal plasma was analysed using ELISA assays for all four analytes in 12 normozoospermic and 12 azoospermic patients and then for MMP-2 only in another 114 men with azoospermia (n = 16), after vasectomy (n = 20) and with sperm counts within the following ranges: 0.3–19x106/ml (n = 20), 20–23x106/ml (n = 11), 49–57x106/ml (n = 12), 96–110x106/ml (n = 12), 139–161x106/ml (n = 12) and 215–346x106/ml (n = 11). Additional zymographic analyses using SDS–PAGE were performed. RESULTS: All investigated MMPs and TIMPs were detected. MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were not significantly different in normozoospermia and azoospermia. Only the MMP-2 concentration was significantly decreased in azoospermic compared with normozoospermic patients (mean ± SD: 650.6 ± 288.9 versus 1677 ± 910.4 ng/ml respectively; P = 0.0002) and significantly correlated with the number of sperm (r = 0.54; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: MMP-2 in seminal plasma was strongly correlated to the sperm count in a linear fashion. Its origin and potential function remain to be elucidated.

Key words: male fertility/MMP/seminal plasma/TIMP/zymography

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: klaus.jung{at}charite.de


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