Standardization And Quality Control For The Determination Of Markers Of Male Epididymis And Accessory Sex Glands

The determination of biochemical markers in seminal plasma couldevaluate the functions of male epididymis and accessory sex glands, which may contribute to investigate the cause and mechanism of maleinfertility. It was reported that the determination of activities of ACP orγ-GT, alpha- glucosidase and fructose in seminal plasma could evaluatefunctions of the prostate, the epididymis and the seminal vesicle, respectively. However, few reports on the quality control for thedetermination of these markers have been documented. Thus, weattempted to establish the standardization and quality control for thedetermination of markers of male epididymis and accessory sex glands.In the first chapter, we assessed the effect of different centrifugationvelocity, abstinence time and freezing-thawing on the examination ofalpha-glucosidase level in seminal plasma. We found that centrifugationvelocity and abstinence time could affect the result of alpha-glucosidaseexamination, suggesting that centrifugation velocity and abstinence timeshould be standardized in the alpha-glucosidase determination. Whilefreezing-thawing and chymotrypsin had no apparent effect on thedetermination of alpha-glucosidase level, suggesting that chymotrypsincould be used to treat non-liquefied samples before semen analysis andfrozen seminal plasma could serve as the quality control products for thedetermination of alpha-glucosidase activity among clinical laboratories.In the second chapter, we assessed the effects of centrifugation velocity, standing time after dilution, freezing-thawing and chymotrypsin on the determination of ACP activity in seminal plasma. The results showed thatthe precision of the measurement of ACP activity by thespectrophotometric method could be accepted and standing time afterdilution could affect the determination of ACP activity. Whilefreezing-thawing and chymotrypsin had no apparent effect on themeasurement of ACP activity. It was concluded that standing time afterdilution and centrifugation velocity should be standardized, chymotrypsincould be used to treat non-liquefied samples before semen analysis andfrozen seminal plasma could serve as the quality control products for thedetermination of ACP activity among different laboratories. In the thirdchapter, we evaluated the effects of centrifugation velocity, standing timeafter dilution, freezing-thawing and chymotrypsin on the determination ofγ-GT activity in seminal plasma. The results showed that the precision ofthe measurement ofγ-GT activity by the spectrophotometric methodcould be accepted. Besides, centrifugation velocity and standing timeafter dilution could affect the result ofγ-GT examination. Whilefreezing-thawing and chymotrypsin had no significant effect on themeasurement ofγ-GT level. In conclusion, standing time after dilutionand centrifugation velocity should be standardized, chymotrypsin couldbe used to treat non-liquefied samples before semen analysis and frozenseminal plasma could serve as the quality control products for thedetermination ofγ-GT activity among different laboratories. In the fourthchapter, we detected the effects of standard fructose solution, centrifugation velocity, standing time of semen and seminal plasma, freezing-thawing and chymotrypsin on the determination of seminalplasma fructose. We founded that standard fructose solution and standingtime of semen could affect the result of fructose examination. Whilefreezing-thawing and chymotrypsin had no significant effect on thedetermination of fructose levels. Thus, standard fructose solution, standing time of semen and centrifugation velocity all should bestandardized, chymotrypsin could be used to treat non-liquefied samplesbefore semen analysis and frozen seminal plasma could serve as thequality control products for the determination of fructose levels amongdifferent laboratories.