Epididymal markers in human infertility.

Alpha-glucosidase, glycerophosphocholine, and L-carnitine were measured in sperm-free seminal plasma to determine whether these markers reflected the epididymal function of men attending an infertility clinic. The putative markers correlated well with each other (r = 0.66 to 0.70) and in 92% of 283 cases were accurate in categorizing semen as containing normal or subnormal amounts of markers. Glucosidase was considered the best index of epididymal function and was used for a further 306 samples. The ejaculate content of epididymal markers was correlated with testicular volume and serum testosterone below values of 30 ml and 30 nmol/l, respectively. Markers were also correlated with the concentration and motility of spermatozoa in semen. Seventy-one of 425 patients (17%) displayed subnormal epididymal secretions, mainly in association with hypogonadism (Klinefelter syndrome, Kallman syndrome, idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) but also in cases of obstructed ducts, maldescended testicles, and local irradiation following hemicastration. Because azoospermic patients had reduced epididymal markers with both high and low FSH levels and a large proportion of men with reduced glucosidase and normal FSH suffered from testicular failure, it is suggested that other indices of testicular function are required for correct interpretation of reduced epididymal markers. Thirteen patients (3%) had low markers for which no cause was apparent; these may be cases of infertility due to isolated epididymal dysfunction.

[1]  M. Serio,et al.  Simultaneous measurement of seminal L-carnitine, alpha,1-4-glucosidase, and glycerylphosphorylcholine in azoospermic and oligozoospermic patients. , 1987, Fertility and sterility.

[2]  R. Pacifici,et al.  Glycerylphosphorylcholine in Selected Forms of Male Infertility , 2009, Andrologia.

[3]  G. Southwick,et al.  Comparison of the Short‐Term Effects of Vasoligation and Open‐Ended Vasectomy on the Reproductive Tract of the Male Rat , 2009, Andrologia.

[4]  Dr. Trevor G. Cooper.  The Epididymis, Sperm Maturation and Fertilisation , 1986, Springer Berlin Heidelberg.

[5]  K. Bandhauer,et al.  Seminal carnitine content in obstructive azoospermia. Correlation with the anatomic level of obstruction. , 1986, Journal of andrology.

[6]  D. Veeramachaneni,et al.  Pathophysiology of small testes in beef bulls: relationship between scrotal circumference, histopathologic features of testes and epididymides, seminal characteristics, and endocrine profiles. , 1986, American journal of veterinary research.

[7]  C. Souchier,et al.  Alpha-glucosidase as a specific epididymal enzyme marker. Its validity for the etiologic diagnosis of azoospermia. , 1986, Journal of andrology.

[8]  J. Dacheux,et al.  Major contribution of epididymis to alpha-glucosidase content of ram seminal plasma. , 1985, Biology of reproduction.

[9]  R. Hale,et al.  Effects of white blood cells on the in vitro penetration of zona-free hamster eggs by human spermatozoa. , 1985, Journal of andrology.

[10]  Soufir Jc.  [Azoospermia, asthenozoospermia and seminal biochemistry]. , 1985 .

[11]  R. Giorgino,et al.  Free l-carnitine in human semen. , 1985, Archives of andrology.

[12]  D. Canale,et al.  Free L-carnitine in human semen: its variability in different andrologic pathologies. , 1984, Fertility and Sterility.

[13]  P. Jouannet,et al.  Levels of seminal free L(-) carnitine in fertile and infertile men. , 1984, International journal of andrology.

[14]  R. Tremblay,et al.  Presence of α-glucosidases in the male reproductive system of the rat and hormonal influences , 1983 .

[15]  E. Nieschlag,et al.  Saliva and serum testosterone following oral testosterone undecanoate administration in normal and hypogonadal men. , 1983, Acta endocrinologica.

[16]  S. Sane,et al.  Evaluation of glycerylphosphocholine in semen of normal and infertile men. , 1982, Journal of reproduction and fertility.

[17]  R. Hammerstedt,et al.  Phosphatidylcholine of blood lipoprotein is the precursor of glycerophosphorylcholine found in seminal plasma. , 1982, Biochimica et biophysica acta.

[18]  R. Tremblay,et al.  Correlation between L-Carnitine and alpha-1, 4-glucosidase activity in the semen of normal, infertile and vasectomized men. , 1982, Infertility.

[19]  L. Nebel,et al.  Survey of Carnitine Content of Human Semen Using a Semiquantitative Auxanographic Method: Decreased Semen Total Carnitine Concentration in Patients with Azoospermia or Severe Oligozoospermia , 2009, Andrologia.

[20]  G. Killian,et al.  Association of [14C]phosphatidylcholine with rat epididymal sperm and its conversion to [14C] glycerylphosphorylcholine by sperm and principal cells. , 1981, Biology of reproduction.

[21]  A. Orgiazzi,et al.  Enzymes in the seminal plasma from azoospermic men: correlation with the origin of their azoospermia. , 1981, Fertility and sterility.

[22]  L. Lewin,et al.  Carnitine and acylcarnitines in semen from azoospermic patients. , 1981, Fertility and sterility.

[23]  B. Pardiwalla,et al.  Glyceryl phosphoryl choline levels in cases of epididymitis. , 1980, Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.

[24]  G. Waites,et al.  Carnitine transport into the perfused epididymis of the rat: regional differences, stereospecificity, stimulation by choline, and the effect of other luminal factors. , 1980, Biology of reproduction.

[25]  U. Wetterauer,et al.  Carnitine in seminal plasma: its significance in diagnostic andrology. , 1980, Archives of andrology.

[26]  M. Sar,et al.  Autoradiographic Study of the [3H] Carnitine Distribution in Rat Epididymis , 1979 .

[27]  T. Bøhmer,et al.  Motility Related to the Presence of Carnitine/Acetyl‐Carnitine in Human Spermatozoa , 1979 .

[28]  A. Sheth,et al.  Seminal plasma concentration of glycerylphosphorylcholine before and after vasectomy and vas reanastomosis. , 1979, Fertility and sterility.

[29]  J. Czyba,et al.  Enzyme comparative study of spermatozoa and seminal plasma in normal and subfertile man. , 1979, Archives of andrology.

[30]  R. Tremblay,et al.  alpha,1-4-Glucosidase activity in human semen: variations with number and motility of spermatozoa. , 1979, Fertility and sterility.

[31]  T. Acott,et al.  Sperm forward motility protein: tissue distribution and species cross reactivity. , 1979, Biology of Reproduction.

[32]  U. Wetterauer,et al.  Carnitine in Seminal Fluid as Parameter for the Epididymal Funktion * , ** , 2009, Andrologia.

[33]  W. Arrata,et al.  The role of phosphate esters in male fertility. , 1978, Fertility and sterility.

[34]  R. Tremblay,et al.  P-Nitrophenol-alpha-D-glucopyranoside as substrate for measurement of maltase activity in human semen. , 1978, Clinical chemistry.

[35]  P. Hoel,et al.  Carnitine levels in human accessory sex organs. , 1978, Archives of andrology.

[36]  G. Paz,et al.  Human semen analysis: seminal plasma and prostatic fluid compositions and their interlations with sperm quality. , 1977, International journal of fertility.

[37]  B. Lunenfeld,et al.  Epididymis and seminal vesicle as sources of carnitine in human seminal fluid: the clinical significance of the carnitine concentration in human seminal fluid. , 1976, Fertility and sterility.

[38]  R. Ramsay,et al.  The mechanism of fatty acid uptake by heart mitochondria: An acylcarnitine‐carnitine exchange , 1975, FEBS letters.

[39]  D. W. Hamilton,et al.  The uptake of L-(methyl- 3 H) carnitine by the rat epididymis. , 1973, Biochemical and biophysical research communications.

[40]  B. S. Setty,et al.  Studies on the physiology and biochemistry of mammalian epididymis: biochemical composition of epididymis. A comparative study. , 1973, Fertility and sterility.

[41]  J. Lattimer,et al.  Motility of spermatozoa in the human epididymis. , 1972, The Journal of urology.

[42]  A. Sheth,et al.  Effect of testosterone therapy on some of the constituents of human seminal plasma. , 1971, The Journal of urology.