Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.20 (alpha-glucosidase)
 4,237 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Summary Prostasomes are prostate-derived organelles in seminal plasma exhibiting pluripotent properties to facilitate the fertilization process. Seminal prostasome concentration, size distribution and expression of the prostasomal surface antigens CD10, CD13, CD26 and CD59 were examined by flow cytometry. The study group consisted of 79 men with involuntary infertility. Very strong correlations existed between the prostasome expressions of the different CD markers. Significant correlations between prostasome concentration and CD molecules were weak or lacking. Further, no or weak relationships were observed between the prostasomal CD markers and sperm morphology, seminal fructose, neutral alpha-glucosidase activity, zinc and tumour necrosis factor alpha concentrations. Flow cytometry is a practical way to study prostasomes in seminal fluid without prior separation. This is a new technique for evaluation of the role of prostasomes and their functions in male reproductive physiology.
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PMID:Flow cytometric technique for determination of prostasomal quantity, size and expression of CD10, CD13, CD26 and CD59 in human seminal plasma. 1653 55

We wanted to investigate the origin of seminal plasma albumin and its relation to the male reproductive parameters. Semen samples from 916 men, under infertility assessment, were analysed according to guidelines of the World Health Organization. Seminal plasma constituents, i.e. albumin, markers of the epididymal (neutral alpha-glucosidase, NAG), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen, PSA, and zinc) and seminal vesicle function (fructose), as well as levels of reproductive hormones in plasma were measured. The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) was applied on 267 of the 916 samples. A negative correlation was seen for seminal albumin and plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (r=-0.1, P=0.02) and a positive correlation for seminal albumin and serum inhibin B (r=0.2, P=0.004). Albumin exhibited positive correlations with the epididymal marker, NAG (r=0.5, P<0.001) and with the prostatic markers, PSA and zinc (r=0.1, P=0.001; r=0.2, P<0.001 respectively) as well as with age (r=0.2, P<0.001). A negative significant association was seen for seminal albumin and semen volume (beta=-0.60; 95% CI -0.80 to -0.30). The opposite trend was found regarding sperm concentration (beta=0.34; 95% CI 0.30-0.40), total sperm count (beta=0.30; 95% CI 0.20-0.40), and percentage morphologically normal spermatozoa (beta=0.70; 95% CI 0.10-1.0). No association was found between albumin and sperm motility, SCSA parameters, or fructose, the marker of seminal vesicles. Our results suggest testicular, epididymal and prostatic origin of seminal plasma albumin, in addition to the contribution from blood. This is the first study to demonstrate an association between seminal plasma albumin and sperm morphology. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of seminal albumin in sperm morphology.
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PMID:Seminal plasma albumin: origin and relation to the male reproductive parameters. 1743 Apr 25

This study aimed to examine the association between the interval from ejaculation to analysis and epididymal and accessory sex gland function in relation to sperm motility. Ejaculates from 1079 men assessed for infertility were analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Biochemical markers were measured in semen to assess the function of the epididymis (neutral alpha-glucosidase [NAG]), prostate (prostate-specific antigen [PSA] and zinc), and seminal vesicles (fructose). Three groups were defined according to time from ejaculation to analysis: G(< or =30) (24-30 minutes), G(31-60) (31-60 minutes), and G(>60) (63-180 minutes). The proportion of progressively motile sperm was significantly lower in G(>60) than in G(< or =30) (mean difference, 8.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0%-13%) or G(31-60) (mean difference, 6.0%; 95% CI, 1.0%-12%). The proportion of rapid progressive sperm motility was significantly higher in G(< or =30) compared with G(31-60) (mean difference, 3.0%; 95% CI, 1.0%-5.0%) and G(>60) (mean difference, 6.0%; 95% CI, 1.0%-10%). Sperm morphology and viability did not vary significantly between the groups. However, PSA levels in G(>60) were 29% and 31% significantly lower than in G(< or =30) (95% CI, 3.0%-54%) and G(31-60) (95% CI, 7.0%-58%), respectively. Moreover, men in G(>60) had 29% and 17% significantly lower zinc compared with those in G(< or =30) (95% CI, 4.0%-69%) and G(31-60) (95% CI, 4.0%-64%), respectively. Levels of NAG and fructose did not differ significantly between the groups. There were negative associations between the ejaculation-to-analysis interval and sperm motility and levels of PSA and zinc. In male infertility assessments, semen analysis should be performed within 60 minutes of ejaculation.
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PMID:Effects of ejaculation-to-analysis delay on levels of markers of epididymal and accessory sex gland functions and sperm motility. 1755 11

Increased male age has been associated with significant reduction in pregnancy rates. This study investigated the association between age, the function of epididymal and accessory sex glands, and their relation to sperm motility. Ejaculates from 498 men assessed for infertility were analysed according to WHO [1999] guidelines. Seminal markers of epididymal (neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG)), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and zinc), and seminal vesicle function (fructose) were measured. Four groups according to age were defined: G(21-30) (21-30 years), G(31-40) (31-40 years), G(41-50) (41-50 years), and G(>50) (51-66 years). Percentage progressive motility was significantly lower in G(>50) compared with G(21-30). NAG, PSA, zinc, and fructose were significantly lower in G(>50) compared with G(21-30). In a multiple regression analysis model, NAG and PSA showed positive significant association with percentage progressive motility. The opposite trend was found regarding zinc. No association between fructose and percentage progressive motility was shown. In this cross-sectional study, declined sperm motility observed in men over 50 years of age might be due to age-dependent changes in epididymal and accessory sex gland function.
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PMID:Association between age and epididymal and accessory sex gland function and their relation to sperm motility. 1761 73

To evaluate the association between neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG) activity and sperm DNA fragmentation (DFI), ejaculates from 24 men undergoing evaluation for sperm DNA damage as a part of infertility assessment were analysed. The mean +/- SD and range for the semen quality of the 24 ejaculates are as follows: volume (3.1 +/- 1.3, 1.8-6.0 ml); sperm concentration (45.6 +/- 41.1, 1.3-151.2 x 10(6) ml(-1)); sperm motility (52.8 +/- 28.8, 1-95%); sperm with fragmented DNA (17.6 +/- 15.4, 1.7-56.0%); sperm with immature chromatin (9.6 +/- 3.8, 2.5-19.1%); NAG activity (37.9 +/- 18.3, 4.4-75.3 mU ml(-1)). The only sperm parameter significantly correlated with neutral alpha-glucosidase is the percentage of sperm DFI [correlation coefficient (r) = 0.4376, P = 0.03].
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PMID:Correlation between neutral alpha-glucosidase activity and sperm DNA fragmentation. 1973 79

Progress in diagnosis of infertility, has been dramatically increased during the past decades with changes occurring in virtually all aspects of infertility research, thus providing innovative diagnostic testing and sophisticated instrumentation for improved management and treatment of infertility. There are about 50% of infertile couples who are suffering because of male infertility. Semen examination is a basic investigation for these infertile couples. It not only reveals the quantity and quality of sperm but also the quality of the seminal plasma, which is essential for normal sperm function. In this review, the recent advancement in investigation procedures has been analyzed which are very important in clinical practice to (a) evaluate the sperm fertilizing ability (Acrosin, aniline blue, HOS), (b) characterization of male accessory sex glands secretions (Fructose, alpha-glucosidase, PSA) and (c) the management of azoospermic patients. It is believed that use of such diagnostic procedures will facilitate wide selection of patients for whom an effective therapy might be then possible.
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PMID:Semen characteristics: Advancement in andrological assessment. 2310 19

The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for male subfertility/infertility caused by or complicated by genital heat stress remains unclear in many respects. Because seminal plasma creates the environment for the proper functioning of spermatozoa, in this study, we verified the associations among standard spermiograms, seminal biochemical parameters (neutral alpha-glucosidase, fructose, and citric acid) and oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant capacity, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and malondialdehyde concentration) in distinct entities associated with male infertility with and without long-time exposure to local hyperthermia. We demonstrated that men exposed to prolonged environmental or clinically recognized local heat stress in adulthood may suffer from dysregulation of seminal antioxidant components, which can be directly associated with epididymal and prostate function. The comparative analysis of the studied parameters showed numerous correlations among all biochemical parameters (particularly neutral alpha-glucosidase) with low standard semen quality in almost all the investigated infertile groups. In light of the data obtained in this originally designed study, we conclude that more attention should be paid to the epididymis and accessory gland function in subfertile and infertile men exposed to genital heat stress, especially in the context of novel treatment algorithms (targeted therapies).
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PMID:Seminal Plasma Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Different Genitourinary Topographical Regions Involved in Reproductive Tract Disorders Associated with Genital Heat Stress. 3289 11


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