Thermodynamic study of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase enzyme heterogeneity in human seminal plasma.

Background: It has been suggested that the activity of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) in seminal plasma may be used as a biochemical marker of azoospermia. The purpose of our study was to evaluate this hypothesis using a thermodynamic procedure developed to determine total Hex activity and that of its isoenzymes in this biological fluid.

Methods: Using the substrate 3,3'-dichlorophenolsulphoftaleinil N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide, a highly significant difference (p<0.

Evidence of free leptin in human seminal plasma.

Leptin is an adipose tissue-secreted hormone that actively participates in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Besides this principal role, leptin has been implicated in a large variety of neuroendocrine, paracrine, and autocrine actions involved in the regulation of reproductive function in both experimental animals and humans. Although the participation of leptin in female reproduction is well established, any role in male reproductive function is at best tenuous.