Seminal Plasma Levels of Neutral Alpha Glucosidase Activity and Its Interactions with Spermiogram in Nigerian Males

Introduction: Seminal neutral alpha glucosidase activity is a useful parameter in determination of the cause of azoospermia, This has often been reported to have seasonal variation and has not been extensively studied in sub Saharan Africa.

Materials and Methods: The was a cross sectional study conducted on 122 male subjects attending a fertility clinic in Lagos, Nigeria. Semen samples were collected from subjects by masturbation into a sterile universal bottle. The samples were analysed after one hour to allow for complete liquefaction and the results categorized according to the WHO guidelines.

Results: The mean age, standard deviation (SD) and age group of the study subjects were 44 (5.3) years and 30 - 56 years respectively. The mean ± 2SD of neutral alpha glucosidase activity in subjects with normozoospermia (20.42±14.55 mIU/ml) is comparable with other categories (f = 1.430, p = 0.236). The number and proportions of the categorized spermiogram in this report is oligoasthenozoospermia 18 (15%), azoospermia 18 (15%), oligozoospermia 18 (15%) and normozoospermia 64 (53.3%). Normozoospermic subjects had a significantly increased sperm concentration (61.19± 38.91), % active motility (56.56±16.92%), (f = 43.959, p = 0.000) and % non progressive motility (34.94±25.22%), (f = 8.203, p = 0.000) compared with other categories; while asthenozoospermic subjects had a significantly increased % abnormal sperm cells (60.00±0.00) compared with other categories (f = 21.448, p = 0.000). Neutral alpha glucosidase activity correlated positively with sperm concentration (r = 0.806, p = 0.005) in normozoospermic subjects.

Conclusion: We conclude from our results that the determination of neutral alpha glucosidase activity in seminal plasma may not give additional information of the fertility status, but shows premise in conjunction with other seminal biochemical parameters, clinical manisfestations and spermiogram.