[Study of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity in the human semen]

NAG activity in the human semen was measured using NAG kit. Plasma NAG activity in the semen was more than 500 times higher than that of urine, while in sperm, NAG activity was low. In a frozen condition, NAG activity in semen plasma did not change for more than five weeks. NAG activity in semen plasma of male infertility associated with oligozoospermia was 1,918 +/- 829 (M +/- S.D.) mU/ml. Among the reproductive tissue, high NAG activities were observed in epididymis and prostate. Our present study suggests that NAG in semen plasma must possess some active roles related to sperm maturation and/or sperm motility or both.