Fumarase Activity in Human Ejaculate Relationship to Sperm-Motility or -Penetration of Zona-Free Hamster Eggs

Fumarase activity, sperm count, sperm motility and in vitro fertilizing ability of spermatozoa were determined in semen samples of 69 men attending an infertility clinic. There existed a significant correlation between sperm count and fumarase activity (r = 0.52). No significant relationship was observed between sperm motility or hamster egg fertilizing ability of the spermatozoa and fumarase activity. From these results it is concluded that fumarase activity in human ejaculates can probably not be used to define the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa.
Fumarase-Aktivität im menschlichen Ejakulat Beziehungen zwischen Spermatozoen-Motilität oder -Penetration in Zona-freie-Hamster-Eier

Zusammenfassung

An den Spermaproben von 69 Männern wurde die Fumarase-Aktivität, die Spermatozoendichte, die Spermatozoenmotilität und die in-vitro-Fertilisierungs-Fähigkeit von Spermatozoen untersucht. Dabei konnte eine signifikante Beziehung zwischen der Spermatozoendichte und der Fumarase-Aktivität (r = 0,52) festgestellt werden. Zwischen der Spermatozoenmotilität oder der Fertilisierungs-Fähigkeit menschlicher Spermatozoen für Hamster-Eier ließ sich dagegen keine Signifikanz zur Fumarase-Aktivität herstellen. Aus den Ergebnissen wird die Schlußfolgerung gezogen, daß die Fumarase-Aktivität im menschlichen Ejakulat im allgemeinen nicht für die Beurteilung der Fertilisierungs-Fähigkeit der Spermatozoen herangezogen werden kann.     

IS ROUTINE SCROTAL ULTRASOUND ADVANTAGEOUS IN INFERTILE MEN?

PURPOSE: We determine the value of routine scrotal ultrasonography in the evaluation of male infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scrotal color Doppler ultrasonography reports of 1,372 infertile men were reviewed to assess the prevalence of scrotal abnormalities and compared to clinical findings. RESULTS: The prevalence of scrotal abnormalities was 38%. Testicular tumor was found in 0.5%, varicocele in 29.7%, testicular cyst in 0.7%, testicular microlithiasis in 0.9%, epididymal cyst in 7.6% and hydrocele in 3.2% of the cases. Overall, 67% of sonography findings were not evident on palpation, and only 1 of 7 testicular tumors was suspected. Of the varicoceles 60% were not found on physical examination. The rate of testicular tumors (1/200) was higher than that reported for the general European population (1/20,000). CONCLUSIONS: Routine scrotal ultrasound provides valuable information in the diagnostic evaluation of infertile men and substantially more pathological conditions are detected compared to clinical palpation. The high prevalence of testicular malignancies underlines the clinical relevance of routine scrotal ultrasonography in infertile men.     

Improvement of sperm count and motility after ligation of varicoceles detected with colour Doppler ultrasonography

The debate regarding the efficacy of varicocele ligation for improvement of semen parameters and pregnancy rates is ongoing. In addition, no consensus exists as to the benefit of treatment of subclinical varicoceles. The aim of this study was to investigate, retrospectively, the effect of high ligation of both subclinical and clinical varicoceles on sperm count and motility. The value of several factors from history-taking and physical examination for the prediction of successful varicocelectomy was analysed. A total of 139 patients, operated on for a unilateral varicocele on the left side, were studied. Varicoceles were subclinical in 73 patients, based on colour Doppler ultrasonography, and 66 varicoceles were clinical, based on palpation in addition to ultrasonography. Comparison of semen parameters before and after surgery revealed a significant improvement. The median sperm count increased from 10.0 to 14.7, and from 18.2 to 28.6 million/ejaculate, in patients with subclinical and clinical varicoceles, respectively ( p  < 0.001). The percentage improvement in median sperm count in subclinical varicoceles was not statistically different from the improvement in clinical varicoceles. Mean progressive motility improved significantly after ligation ( p  < 0.001). The improvement in motility in subclinical varicoceles, from 16 to 23%, was significantly larger than the 24 to 27% improvement in clinical varicoceles. The increase in sperm count was related positively to testicular volume before surgery ( p  < 0.05). The increase in sperm motility was significantly lower in patients with a history of cryptorchidism ( n  = 22, p  < 0.05). The present data show that ligation of varicoceles detected using Doppler ultrasonography, whether palpable or not, results in an increase in sperm concentration and motility.