• PMID: 8359935
• Gene Name: PA
• Condition: Fertilization capacity
• Association: The study suggests that sperm-bound PA is involved in the fertilization process and may represent a potential indicator of sperm fertilizing capacity.
• Population size: 63
• Population details: 63 patients included in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Fertilization capacity

Plasminogen activator activity and fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa

Lison D, Tas S, Gennart JP, Psalti I, De Cooman S, Lauwerys R.

Mature spermatozoa contain a number of proteases that are supposed to contribute to their fertilizing ability. The present study was directed at plasminogen activator (PA), a protease that belongs to the group of serine proteases and converts the zymogen plasminogen to the active broad-spectrum protease plasmin. To investigate the possible role of PA in the fertilization process, we have measured sperm-bound PA activity in 63 patients included in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme and assessed their relationship to standard semen parameters and the rate of fertilization. PA activity was correlated significantly with the sperm count, as well as with sperm motility and morphology. Using logistic regression analysis, specific PA (pmol pNA 10(-6) cells min-2) was found to significantly influence the probability of fertilization. Other significantly predictive factors were motility and the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology. The sperm concentration (10(6) cells ml-1) did not significantly affect the outcome of IVF. We suggest that sperm-bound PA is involved in the fertilization process and may represent a potential indicator of sperm fertilizing capacity. FAU - Lison, D AU - Lison D AD - Unité de Toxicologie Industrielle et de Médecine du Travail, Faculté de Médecine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. FAU - Tas, S AU - Tas S FAU - Gennart, J P AU - Gennart JP FAU - Psalti, I AU - Psalti I FAU - De Cooman, S AU - De Cooman S