Acrosin activity as a potential marker for sperm membrane characteristics in unexplained male infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sperm membrane system integrity in unexplained infertile male subjects with three consecutive conception failures on IUI even though semen clinical parameters were normal.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Medical biotechnology laboratory, School of Medical Science and Technology IIT Kharagpur, India.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with unexplained infertility, 17 normal proven-fertile healthy donors, and 21 infertile males with low motility but with other semen parameters remaining normal.


METHODS
Semen samples were collected from unexplained infertile patients as well as from healthy fertile donors after abstinence of 3-5 days and were analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines.


METHODS
Release of 5'-nucleotidase (plasma membrane marker), lactate dehydrogenase (mitochondrial marker) and free acrosin, proacrosin, and total acrosin (acrosomal membrane marker).


RESULTS
Plasma membrane integrity and respiratory activity of sperm cells were comparable in all three groups. The proacrosin-acrosin system was adversely affected in unexplained infertile subjects despite high sperm motility.


CONCLUSIONS
Total acrosin activity may be considered as a sensitive biochemical marker for clinical evaluation of unexplained infertility in males.
Chaudhury
Koel
K
School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. koel@smst.iitkgp.ernet.in
Das
Tuhin
T
Chakravarty
Baidyanath
B
Bhattacharyya
Asok K
AK
D015720:5'-Nucleotidase / Q000378:metabolism; D000176:Acrosin / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D015720:5'-Nucleotidase; D000176:Acrosin