EPIDIDYMAL MARKERS IN AN ANDROLOGY CLINIC

The ability of the markers alpha-glucosidase, carnitine, and glycerylp hosphorylcholine to indicate epididymal obstruction was studied. alpha -Glucosidase was found to be the best discriminant, with 93.4% correct classifications. The possible interrelationship between alpha-glucosi dase activity, sperm ATP, and epididymal function was then studied. al pha-Glucosidase correlated positively with the percentage of motile sp erm (p = 0.0212) and with the percentage of sperm with good forward pr ogression (p = 0.0374), but correlated negatively with the sperm ATP ( p < 0.0500). It was concluded that lower ATP and higher alpha-Glucosid ase may be markers of efficient epididymal function. The possible epid idymal origin of detached ciliary tufts (DCTs) was studied by determin ing ATP and alpha-glucosidase activity in patients with DCTs. The mean ATP in patients with DCTs was significantly higher (p = 0.009), but t he alpha-glucosidase activity significantly lower (p = 0.0412) than in the control group. These results seem to support the epididymal origi n of DCTs.