Correlation between neutral alpha-glucosidase activity and sperm DNA fragmentation.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Andrology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Sperm DNA fragmentation (DFI) is a key indicator of male infertility.
• Neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG) is a protein found in seminal plasma, potentially related to sperm function.
• Understanding biomarkers for sperm DNA damage is crucial for infertility diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG) activity and sperm DNA fragmentation (DFI).
• To assess the potential of NAG as a biomarker for sperm DNA integrity in infertile men.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of ejaculates from 24 men undergoing infertility evaluation.
• Measurement of semen parameters including volume, sperm concentration, motility, and DFI.
• Quantification of neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG) activity in seminal plasma.

Main Results:

• A significant positive correlation was found between NAG activity and the percentage of sperm with fragmented DNA (r = 0.4376, P = 0.03).
• No significant correlation was observed between NAG activity and other semen parameters like sperm concentration or motility.
• Mean DFI was 17.6%, mean sperm immaturity was 9.6%, and mean NAG activity was 37.9 mU ml(-1).

Conclusions:

• Neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG) activity is significantly associated with sperm DNA fragmentation (DFI).
• NAG may serve as a potential biomarker for assessing sperm DNA integrity in male infertility evaluations.
• Further research is warranted to explore the clinical utility of NAG in reproductive medicine.