Age-related changes in seminal polymorphonuclear elastase in men with asymptomatic inflammation of the genital tract.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate age-related inflammatory events in the male genital tract.


METHODS
In a total of 4265 randomly collected patients attending the andrological outpatient clinic of the Center for Dermatology and Andrology, University of Giessen, Germany, ejaculate volume, pH-value, sperm concentration, total and progressive sperm motility, concentration of polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase, number of peroxidase-positive cells and fructose were measured and correlated with patient's age.


RESULTS
While ejaculate volume, motility and fructose all correlated negatively with age, sperm concentration, PMN elastase and the pH-value showed a positive correlation. The prevalence of male genital tract inflammation (as defined by PMN elastase > 250 ng/mL) and its severity increased significantly. PMN elastase did not correlate with sperm motility. Fructose as a marker of seminal vesicle function showed a significant negative relationship with the PMN elastase levels, the number of peroxidase-positive cells and sperm motility.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant increases of PMN-elastase levels as marker of male genital tract inflammation in older men appear to be indicative of age-related changes in local immunoregulatory mechanisms. Because there is no association of PMN elastase with sperm motility, a direct inhibitory effect of this enzyme can be excluded.
Henkel
Ralf
R
Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa. rhenkel@uwc.ac.za
Maass
Gesa
G
Jung
Andreas
A
Haidl
Gerhard
G
Schill
Wolf-Bernhard
WB
Schuppe
Hans-Christian
HC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004542:Ejaculation; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count
D015415:Biomarkers; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase