Epididymal secretory function in men with asthenoteratozoospermia

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Abstract
Epididymal function was evaluated in normozoospermic men and men with asthenoteratozoospermia using α-glucosidase as secretory parameter. No difference was observed in the total quantity of the enzyme secreted into the ejaculate in spite of major differences between the two groups in the proportion of spermatozoa exhibiting progressive motility and normal morphology. In general, the secretion of α-glucosidase was positively correlated with the sperm concentration in the normozoospermic group, but not in asthenozoospermic subjects. The total enzyme contents of the ejaculate were significantly greater in men with asthenoteratozoospermia (sperm concentrations, > 35 × 106/ml) than in subjects with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (sperm concen trations < 10×106/ml, P < 0.01) indicating a higher incidence of epididymal occlusion and/or dysfunction in the latter group. Within normozoosperinic individuals, extremes in progressive motility or abnormal morphology could not be related to the quantities of enzyme when expressed per million sperm cells. It is concluded that if α-glucosidase is a reliable parameter of human epididymal secretory function, variation in the secretory function of the epididymis cannot explain the poor sperm quality observed in asthenoteratozoospermic individuals.

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