MR 24. Relationship between seminal plasma alpha - glycosidase and seminal parameters and biochemistry in infertile men

Objective: To identify the role of seminal plasma alphaglycosidase in the development, diagnosis and therapy of infertility and to explore the relationship between seminal plasma alpha-glycosidase and seminal parameters or biochemical analysis in infertile men.

Methods: Semen samples were harvested from 616 infertile men who were treated in our center from January 2009 to March 2011. Seminal plasma alpha-glycosidase's normal level was set between 35.1-87.7 U/mL, lower than this level was considered as abnormal. Seminal parameters and biochemistry were compared between people with normal and abnormal alpha-glycosidase.

Results: Compare those with abnormal alpha-glycosidase, patients with normal had signif icantly higher sperm concentration, percentage of rapid progressive motility sperm, sperm viability, curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity, and lower seminal leucocyte and immotile sperm (all P<0.05). Seminal plasma alpha-glycosidase had positive correlation with sperm concentration, percentage of rapid progressive motility sperm, sperm viability, curvilinear velocity, and straight line velocity (all P<0.05), whereas it had negative correlation with seminal leucocyte and immotile sperm. Seminal volume, pH, age of patient, coliquation of semen, normal morphology percentage, seminal elastase, zinc, fructose, and acid protease showed no relationship with alpha-glycosidase's level (all P>0.05). The level of alpha-glycosidase was significantly higher in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia than in those with obstructive azoospermia (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Seminal alpha-glycosidase well reflects the function of epididymis. Obstruction above the tail of epididymis may elevated its level.