[Correlation of free L-carnitine level with accessory gland markers and its clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the correlation of the level of free L-carnitine with accessory gland markers and its clinical significance.


METHODS
Semen samples from 30 fertile men and 222 infertile patients were collected by masturbation. The measurement of the semen quality was carried out by computer-assisted semen analysis system. The seminal plasma components of free L-carnitine, alpha-glucosidase, fructose and acid phosphatase were determined. The results obtained were statistically calculated with an SPSS 12.0 program to evaluate the difference between the control group and the infertile one and the correlation of the free L-carnitine levels with the seminal plasma components of alpha-glucosidase, fructose and acid phosphatase.


RESULTS
The concentration of free L-carnitine (P < 0.01) and the activity of alpha-glucosidase (P < 0.05) were significantly reduced in the infertile group as compared with the control, with no significant difference in the concentration of fructose and the activity of acid phosphatase between the two groups. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between seminal plasma free L-carnitine level and alpha-glucosidase activity (r = 0.504, P < 0.001.


CONCLUSIONS
The determination of free L-carnitine level in seminal plasma is a useful test in the evaluation of epididymal function, which may serve as a guidance for the clinical treatment of male infertility as well as for the study on the mechanisms of male reproduction.
Li
Ke
K
PLA Institute of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, China. liker1017@163.com
Li
Wei
W
Huang
Yu-feng
YF
Shang
Xue-jun
XJ
D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases / Q000032:analysis
D005632:Fructose; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000520:alpha-Glucosidases; D002331:Carnitine