Relationship between semen quality and seminal plasma components: alpha-glucosidase, fructose and citrate in infertile men compared with a normospermic population of Tunisian men

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the secretory function of the male accessory glands and sperm parameters in normospermic controls and infertile patients. One hundred and fifty-nine men were investigated: they were composed of two groups: normospermic (n = 37) and infertile (n = 122) men with altered sperm characteristics. These infertile men were divided into the following groups: asthenozoospermia (n = 38), teratozoospermia (n = 40) and asthenoteratozoospermia (n = 44). The patients underwent semen analysis and measurements of fructose, neutral alpha-glucosidase and citric acid. The level of fructose was significantly decreased in asthenozoospermic and increased in asthenoteratozoospermic men. It was significantly correlated with semen volume, sperm count, motility and morphology. The seminal alpha-glucosidase levels were significantly correlated with semen volume and pH and citric acid was significantly correlated with pH. Thus, alpha-glucosidase and citric acid levels were associated with semen pH. The significant correlation between semen parameters, accessory glands and epididymal functions highlights the relationship between semen and normal genital tract function.

Double‐blind, randomised, placebo‐controlled trial on the effect of L‐carnitine and L‐acetylcarnitine on sperm parameters in men with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia

“…We found a significant increase in α‐glucosidase concentration after 6 months of therapy, which aligns with the higher levels of α‐glucosidase observed in fertile compared to infertile men by Zopfgen et al (), and the positive correlation between α‐glucosidase activity and motility by Roaiah et al (). Some studies did not observe a difference in α‐glucosidase activity relative to spermatozoa motility (Krause & Bohring, ; Lenzi et al, ; Said et al, ).…”

Validation of a laboratory-developed test of human sperm capacitation

“…Non‐viscous and viscous specimens exposed to chymotrypsin have shown little if any change in total motility, forward progression motility, concentration, pH, or volume, but do exhibit a slight change in sperm motility patterns (Chen, Lu, Xu, Huang, & Lu, ). Increased levels of α‐glucosidase activity, a biomarker that is positively correlated with semen quality (Said, Galeraud‐Denis, Carreau, & Saad, ; Zöpfgen et al, ), are also observed following liquefaction with chymotrypsin (Xu et al, ), further supporting the minimal impact of chymotrypsin on semen quality. Bromelain, a thiol proteolytic enzyme found in the stem of pineapples, has also been used to treat viscous seminal plasma from dromedary camels, and did not affect sperm motility (Monaco et al, ).…”

Neutral alpha-1,4-glucosidase and fructose levels contribute to discriminating obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia in Chinese men with azoospermia

“…NAG and fructose, originated in male accessory glands, are released in seminal plasma by genital tract (Said et al ., ). So, NAG and fructose levels are easy to be detected in seminal plasma if genital duct is not completely obstructed.…”

“…So, NAG and fructose levels are easy to be detected in seminal plasma if genital duct is not completely obstructed. Nowadays, alpha‐glucosidase determination is regarded as a noninvasive method in identifying obstructive azoospermia (Viljoen et al ., ; Ojengbede et al ., ; Said et al ., ). Meanwhile, fructose has been reported to be correlated with azoospermia (Buckett & Lewis‐Jones, ).…”