Creatine kinase activity in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma lacks predictive value for male fertility in in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the predictive value of creatine kinase in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma from patients treated in an IVF program.


METHODS
Prospective, blind clinical study.


METHODS
Male infertility clinic.


METHODS
Seventy-three patients and 32 fathers (age, <45 years).


METHODS
Determination of creatine kinase activity in seminal plasma, washed spermatozoa, and swim-up purified spermatozoa from patients treated in an IVF program.


METHODS
Creatine kinase activity in seminal plasma, washed spermatozoa, and swim-up purified spermatozoa.


RESULTS
Creatine kinase activity in washed spermatozoa correlated significantly with normal sperm morphology. No significant correlations were found between creatine kinase activity or creatine kinase isoenzyme ratio in seminal plasma, washed spermatozoa, or swim-up purified spermatozoa and success in the IVF program. The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology was significantly lower in patients whose sperm did not fertilize than in patients whose sperm did fertilize oocytes and in the control group of proven fathers.


CONCLUSIONS
Total creatine kinase activity and creatine kinase isoenzyme distribution are not sperm function markers for prediction of male fertility in IVF treatment.
Rolf
C
C
Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University, Münster, Germany.
Behre
H M
HM
Cooper
T G
TG
Koppers
B
B
Nieschlag
E
E
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000201:enzymology*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology
D003402:Creatine Kinase