Seminal plasma hexosaminidase in patients with normal and abnormal spermograms

MENÉNDEZ HELMAN R.J.; SANJURJO C.; MIRANDA P.V.

IRANIAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

SHAHID SADOUGHI UNIV MEDICAL SCIENCES YAZD

Año: 2015

1680-6433

Background: The profusion of glycosidases in epididymal fluid and seminal plasma leads to speculation on their possible relationship to sperm function. Glucosidase has been reported to be a marker for epididymal function and azoospermia. However, Hexosaminidase (Hex) is the most active glycosidase in epididymal fluid and seminal plasma, as well as in spermatozoa. In previous reports, we explored the putative participation of Hex in human sperm maturation and fertilisation. In the current study, the activity of Hex enzyme in seminal plasma from samples showing different pathologies, as determined by abnormal spermograms was analyzed. Materials & Methods: The activity of Hex and glucosidase in seminal plasma obtained from azoospermic, asthenozoospermic, teratozoospermic and normozoospermic patients was determined using specific substrates. The putative regulation of Hex activity by the inhibitory activity of hexosamines present in the fluid portion of these semen samples was examined by quantification of these sugars in seminal plasma. The possible association between a reduced enzyme activity in seminal plasma with the amount of Hex was determined by western immunoblot using a Hex specific antibody. Finally, the correlation between Hex activity and seminal parameters was analyzed.Results: The activity of total Hex and A isoform in seminal plasma from normozoospermic patients were 413 ± 53 and 133 ± 21 respectively, expressed as total activity in the ejaculate. Hex activity was found to be similar in normo, astheno and teratozoospermic samples. However, like glucosidase Hex activity was significantly reduced (p