Open AccessAge‐related changes in seminal polymorphonuclear elastase in men with asymptomatic inflammation of the genital tract
Author(s) -
Henkel Ralf,
Maaß Gesa,
Jung Andreas,
Haidl Gerhard,
Schill WolfBernhard,
Schuppe HansChristian
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
asian journal of andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1745-7262
pISSN - 1008-682X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2007.00270.x
Subject(s) - elastase , sperm , sperm motility , motility , medicine , inflammation , andrology , neutrophil elastase , endocrinology , male infertility , semen , seminal vesicle , immunology , infertility , biology , enzyme , biochemistry , pregnancy , prostate , genetics , cancer
Aim: To investigate age‐related inflammatory events in the male genital tract. Methods: In a total of 4 265 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. Conclusion: 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.