title: Relationship between lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase and alpha-glucosidase in azoospermia seminal plasma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  [corrected] To determine the correlation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase in semen.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 68 seminal plasmas for lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) and alpha-glucosidase, L-PGDS was analyzed by ELISA. The semen donors were categorized in 3 groups: normal, obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia. We then evaluated their correlation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference of L-PGDS concentration (P<0.001) and alpha-glucosidase activity (P<0.001) among the 3 clinical groups was statistically significant. Correlation between L-PGDS concentration and alpha-glucosidase was also statistically significant. L-PGDS concentration correlated positively with alpha-glucosidase activity (r=0.882).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-PGDS in seminal plasma, like alpha-glucosidase, suggests an obstruction of the seminal ducts and may be a potential marker that may aid in the differential diagnosis of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China; Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, JinLing Hospital, Nanjing, China. chendeyu@263.net
authors.forename: De-Yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jun-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kai-Ya
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002138:Calibration; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D054834:Lipocalins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000601:surgery; D012661:Semen / Q000201:enzymology*; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D054834:Lipocalins; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D019746:Intramolecular Oxidoreductases; C022466:prostaglandin R2 D-isomerase