title: Correlation between L-Carnitine and alpha-1, 4-glucosidase activity in the semen of normal, infertile and vasectomized men.
abstract: The semen content of L-carnitine and of alpha 1, 4-glucosidase has been measured in subjects consulting for evaluation of their fertility.  A close correlation (r=0.684) was found between both parameters over the range of azoospermia to normal zoospermia.  A significant number of patients with oligo or azoospermia displayed normal values of L-carnitine and of alpha-1, 4-glucosidase while approximately 50% showed levels in the low spectrum of vasectomized men.  On the basis of these findings, an obstructive pathology at epididymal or vas deferens level was established by vasography and/or bilateral scrotal exploration in 9 patients with azoospermia.  These 2 epididymal markers might thus be useful in the hands of the practicing andrologist who has to determine precisely the site of a dysfunction in the reproductive system which leads to infertility.
mesh_terms: D001695:Biology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003933:Diagnosis; D005193:Family Planning Services; D013502:General Surgery; D005835:Genitalia; D005837:Genitalia, Male; D007246:Infertility; D010827:Physiology; D012098:Reproduction; D012106:Research; D012661:Semen; D012669:Seminal Vesicles; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive; D013812:Therapeutics; D014566:Urogenital System; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male; D014659:Vasectomy
keywords: Biology; Clinical Research; Examinations And Diagnoses; Family Planning; Genitalia; Genitalia, Male; Infertility; Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses; Laboratory Procedures; Male Sterilization; Male Urologic Surgery; Physiology; Reproduction; Research Methodology; Semen--analysis; Seminal Vesicles; Sterilization, Sexual; Surgery; Treatment; Urogenital Surgery; Urogenital System; Vasectomy