• PMID: 9572418
• Gene Name: GBA
• Condition: Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 71
• Population details: 71 (27 men with azoospermia, 11 vasectomized men with residual spermatozoa present, 33 men with azoospermia of primary testicular origin)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: alpha-GLUC
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility

Seminal plasma alpha-glucosidase activity and male infertility

Mahmoud AM, Geslevich J, Kint J, Depuydt C, Huysse L, Zalata A, Comhaire FH.

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. FAU - Mahmoud, A M AU - Mahmoud AM AD - Assiut University Hospital, Department of Dermatology and Andrology, Egypt. FAU - Geslevich, J AU - Geslevich J FAU - Kint, J AU - Kint J FAU - Depuydt, C AU - Depuydt C FAU - Huysse, L AU - Huysse L FAU - Zalata, A AU - Zalata A