SIALIC-ACID LEVELS IN SPERMATOZOA AND LUMINAL FLUID OF NORMAL AND INFERTILE MEN

Sialic acids present on cell surfaces including spermatozoa have been attributed a number of functions like the sequestration of ageing eryt hrocytes, masking of antigenic groups, zona recognition and zona bindi ng, This study aims at assessing the differences in the sialic acid le vels in spermatozoa and luminal fluid from normal and infertile men, A lso, the sialic acid levels in spermatozoa obtained from men who had u ndergone anastamosis of vas deferens with the epididymal segment (vaso epididymostomy; VEA) above the site of blockage were analysed. The dat a show that (i) in men showing oligozoospermia after VEA, sperm sialic acid levels were significantly elevated, and (ii) in the post-surgica l period, increase in sperm count was accompanied by decrease in sperm sialic acid to levels comparable to that seen in adult fertile men, f t is suggested that following successful VEA the degenerated obstructe d epididymal epithelium may have undergone atleast partial restoration of its functional capabilities and induced maturational changes like loss of sperm sialic acids.