[Comparison of urinary and seminal N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase isoenzymes]

N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) and its isoenzymes were measured in the urine and seminal plasma of healthy volunteers. Urinary NAG level was 2.62 +/- 1.30 U/L (mean +/- standard deviation), 1.99 +/- 0.77 U/g creatinine and seminal NAG level was 2370 +/- 1007 U/l. Urinary NAG level was 2.59 +/- 1.44 U/l, 1.93 +/- 0.80 U/g creatinine in males and 2.67 +/- 1.15 U/l, 2.08 +/- 0.78 U/g creatinine in females, and there was no significant sex difference. NAG isoenzymes in the urine and seminal plasma were divided into two major peaks, A and B. The A:B ratio was 78.0 +/- 6.5: 21.9 +/- 6.5 in the urine and 24.7 +/- 3.2: 75.2 +/- 3.2 in the seminal plasma, and was significantly different. Urinary NAG isoenzyme was 80.3 +/- 6.7: 19.6 +/- 6.7 in males and 74.1 +/- 4.3: 25.9 +/- 4.3 in females, and there was no significant difference between the sexes. These results indicated that urinary and seminal NAG can be differentiated by measuring the isoenzymes. Furthermore, the comparison of seminal NAG isoenzymes before and after vasectomy indicated that seminal NAG may be affected not only by the sperm but also by the prostatic fluid.