vitro effect of lead, silver, tin, mercury, indium and bismuth on human sperm creatine kinase activity: a presumable mechanism for men infertility

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of mercury [Hg[+2], lead [Pb[+2]], silver [Ag[+2]], tin [Sn[+2]], bismuth [Bi[+3]] and indium [In[+3] ions on sperm creatine kinase. creatine kinase was isolated from human sperm homogenates after chromatography on a DEAE cellulose column. At 60 microg ml[-1] metal concentration, 70% of the creatine kinase activity was inhibited by Hg[+2], while at the same concentration, Pb[+2], Ag[+2], Sn[+2], Bi[+3] and In[+3] caused 68%, 66.5%, 65.7%, 64.7% and 62.7% inhibition, respectively. All six metal ions displayed a competitive type of inhibition mechanism for the isolated creatine kinase as analyzed by Lineweaver-Burk plot. KA values of Hg[+2], Pb[+2], Ag[+2], Sn[+2], Bi[+3] and In[+3] were calculated and 8.34 mM, 5 mM, 4.54 mM, 3.45 mM, 3.12 mM and 2.63 mM values were obtained, respectively. All the studied metal ions, at levels of 60 micro g ml[-1], may reduce normal sperm metabolism by inhibition of sperm creatine kinase, which probably is an important cause of infertility in men. However, further investigations, as in vitro and in vivo, are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of heavy metals on male reproductive functioning at the molecular level

Seminal LDH-C4 isoenzyme and sperm mitochondrial activity: a study in male partners of infertile couples.

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme patterns were obtained in the seman of 93 male partners of infertile couples and 28 proven fertile subjects as a control group. Sperm mitochondrial activity index (SMAI) alongwith the conventional seminal parameters was studied for all the subjects excepting the azoospermic and vasectomised males. Only LDH-C4, a germ cell specific isoenzyme activity varied with the variation in sperm density. LDH-C4 activity varied significantly (p<0.001) within and between different groups. Lactate dehydrogenase-C4 activity was absent in 17 azoospermic samples, confirming its germinal epithelial origin, as well as in 8 samples of vasectomised males. In one azoospermic sample, there were many immature germ cells along with surprisingly high LDH-C4 activity suggesting more activity of germinal epithelium associated with high LDH-C4 activity. LDH-C4 activity was reduced significantly in oligozoospermic samples in proportion to sperm density, thus confirming strong correlation (p<0.001) between LDH-C4 and sperm density. There was statistically significant correlation between LDH-C4 and percentage sperm motility as well as between LDH-C4 and Sperm Mitochondrial Activity Index (SMAI) (probability varying from p<0.05 to p<0.01 in different groups), but no such correlation was found between LDH-C4 and sperm morphology. The data confirms LDH-C4 as a germinal epithelial marker. Its relationship with percentage sperm motility is suggestive of definite role of LDH-C4 in evaluation of the spermatozoal quality, similarly its relationship with Sperm Mitochondrial Activity Index (SMAI score) suggest the role of LDH-C4 in metabolism of the spermatocytes and sperms, though further studies are required for clear and detailed understanding of its metabolic role in semen.

Seminal profiles of lysosomal enzymes in normal and infertile men.

Human seminal plasma is known to possess considerable proteolytic activity, much of which is associated with lysosomes. The activities of lysosomal hydrolases like alkaline proteinase, cathepsin-D, aryl-sulfatase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in seminal plasma from randomly chosen infertile and vasectomised men have been compared. These enzymes have been implicated in the coagulation and liquefaction processes. The role of fructose and proteins in these processes has also been studied. The results indicate that cathepsin-D and aryl-sulfatase activity in infertile men were significantly lower than normo-spermic subjects. N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was lowest in azoospermia suggesting that it could be used as a biochemical marker for azoospermia. Conversely, alkaline proteinase showed increased levels in all the infertile cases.

Gamma-glutamil transpeptidasa en plasma seminal humano / Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in human seminal plasma

Se determinó la actividad gamma-glutamil transpeptidasa (GGT) (EC 2.3.2.2) en el plasma seminal de 61 varones y en el eyaculado fraccionado de 4 pacientes que consultaron en un Servicio Andrológico por motivos de esterilidad conyugal, con el fin de establecer su posible valor en el diagnóstico de la esterilidad masculina. Los resultados obtenidos permiten afirmar la irrelevancia de la GGT como indicador de fertilidad y ponen en duda, además, su valor como marcador de función prostática en virtud de la falta de correlación con la citricospermia y la ausencia de órgano-selectividad