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Relationship between lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase and alpha-glucosidase in azoospermia seminal plasma.

Chen DY, Wang JJ, Huang YF, Zhou KY

College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China; Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, JinLing Hospital, Nanjing, China. chendeyu@263.net

BACKGROND: To determine the correlation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase in semen. METHODS: We analyzed 68 seminal plasmas for lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase, L-PGDS was analyzed by ELISA. The semen donors were categorized in 3 groups: normal, obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia. We then evaluated their correlation. RESULTS: The difference of L-PGDS concentration (P<0.001) and alpha-glucosidase activity (P<0.001) among the 3 clinical groups was statistically significant. Correlation between L-PGDS concentration and alpha-glucosidase was also statistically significant. L-PGDS concentration correlated positively with alpha-glucosidase activity (r=0.882). CONCLUSIONS: L-PGDS in seminal plasma, like alpha-glucosidase, suggests an obstruction of the seminal ducts and may be a potential marker that may aid in the differential diagnosis of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.

Published 7 March 2005 in Clin Chim Acta, 354(1): 69-76.
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