Juan Carlos Martinez-Soto1,2, José Landeras1,2, Marta Mollá1,2, Irene Mondejar2,3, María Nicolás1, Laura Fernández-Olmedilla1, Martina Trabalón1, Pilar Coy2,3, Joaquín Gadea4,5. 1. IVI Murcia, 30008, Murcia, Spain. 2. Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. 3. Department of Physiology, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain. 4. Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. jgadea@um.es. 5. Department of Physiology, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain. jgadea@um.es.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The plasminogen/plasmin system is an important extracellular protease system whose function has been implicated in male reproductive function. However, its clinical relevance to fertility in human assisted reproduction technologies has not been systematically investigated. Here, we examined whether total and active populations of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa are predictive of pregnancy outcome in couples undergoing insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS: Seminal samples from 182 men, 5 donors, 21 patients attending the clinic for infertility screening, and 156 for assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment (insemination and ICSI), were evaluated. Total uPA in seminal plasma and spermatozoa as well as active uPA in seminal plasma were measured by ELISA. Sperm quality parameters and fertility outcomes following insemination or ICSI were correlated with the uPA values. RESULTS: Active uPA in seminal plasma was positively correlated to the volume of the ejaculate, total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, and total motility. However, these values were not prognostic of fertility outcomes. Total uPA in spermatozoa was inversely related to sperm concentration, total sperm in ejaculate, morphology, and total and progressive motility, and this measure was not related to fertility. Importantly, however, higher values of total uPA in seminal plasma were detected in cases that resulted in pregnancy compared to those that did not follow insemination and ICSI treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings lay the foundation for further understanding the mechanism by which total uPA in seminal plasma affects fertility and how this marker can be used as a predictor of ART outcomes.
PURPOSE: The plasminogen/plasmin system is an important extracellular protease system whose function has been implicated in male reproductive function. However, its clinical relevance to fertility in human assisted reproduction technologies has not been systematically investigated. Here, we examined whether total and active populations of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in human seminal plasma and spermatozoa are predictive of pregnancy outcome in couples undergoing insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS: Seminal samples from 182 men, 5 donors, 21 patients attending the clinic for infertility screening, and 156 for assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment (insemination and ICSI), were evaluated. Total uPA in seminal plasma and spermatozoa as well as active uPA in seminal plasma were measured by ELISA. Sperm quality parameters and fertility outcomes following insemination or ICSI were correlated with the uPA values. RESULTS: Active uPA in seminal plasma was positively correlated to the volume of the ejaculate, total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, and total motility. However, these values were not prognostic of fertility outcomes. Total uPA in spermatozoa was inversely related to sperm concentration, total sperm in ejaculate, morphology, and total and progressive motility, and this measure was not related to fertility. Importantly, however, higher values of total uPA in seminal plasma were detected in cases that resulted in pregnancy compared to those that did not follow insemination and ICSI treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings lay the foundation for further understanding the mechanism by which total uPA in seminal plasma affects fertility and how this marker can be used as a predictor of ART outcomes.
Authors: Robert Ochsenkühn; Anne E O'Connor; Jonathan J Hirst; H W Gordon Baker; David M de Kretser; Mark P Hedger Journal: J Reprod Immunol Date: 2006-05-18 Impact factor: 4.054
Authors: Inge M W Ebisch; Régine P M Steegers-Theunissen; Fred C G J Sweep; Gerhard A Zielhuis; Anneke Geurts-Moespot; Chris M G Thomas Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2006-11-21 Impact factor: 7.329