Age-related changes in seminal polymorphonuclear elastase in men with asymptomatic inflammation of the genital tract.

Aim: To investigate age-related inflammatory events in the male genital tract.

Methods: In a total of 4265 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.

Seasonal changes of neutral alpha-glucosidase activity in human semen.

Although there are contradictory reports, the biochemical evaluation of the seminal activity of neutral alpha-glucosidase (NAG) has repeatedly been described as an important parameter to test epididymal patency and is recommended by the WHO. Because, for a number of diagnostic parameters, seasonal variations have been described even in the human, it was the aim of this study to investigate possible circannual changes of NAG. This is an important aspect of andrological diagnosis, as seasonal changes of specific diagnostic parameters might have an impact on the accuracy and predictive power of these parameters, which in turn might have an effect on the therapeutic concept for the patients.

Molecular aspects of declining sperm motility in older men.

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism for declining sperm motility in older men.

Design: Retrospective and prospective study.

Setting: University-based andrology unit.

Sperm function and assisted reproduction technology.

The evaluation of different functional sperm parameters has become a tool in andrological diagnosis. These assays determine the sperm's capability to fertilize an oocyte. It also appears that sperm functions and semen parameters are interrelated and interdependent.