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  • Title: Age-related changes in seminal polymorphonuclear elastase in men with asymptomatic inflammation of the genital tract.
    Author: Henkel R, Maass G, Jung A, Haidl G, Schill WB, Schuppe HC.
    Journal: Asian J Androl; 2007 May; 9(3):299-304. PubMed ID: 17486269.
    Abstract:
    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. The prevalence of male genital tract inflammation (as defined by PMN elastase > 250 ng/mL) and its severity increased significantly. PMN elastase did not correlate with sperm motility. Fructose as a marker of seminal vesicle function showed a significant negative relationship with the PMN elastase levels, the number of peroxidase-positive cells and sperm motility. CONCLUSION: The significant increases of PMN-elastase levels as marker of male genital tract inflammation in older men appear to be indicative of age-related changes in local immunoregulatory mechanisms. Because there is no association of PMN elastase with sperm motility, a direct inhibitory effect of this enzyme can be excluded.
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