SECRETORY LEUKOCYTE PROTEASE INHIBITOR (SLPI) CONCENTRATIONS IN SEMINAL PLASMA - SLPI RESTORES SPERM MOTILITY REDUCED BY ELASTASE

In this study, we quantified secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (S LPI) and elastase in ejaculates from normal donors and infertile patie nts with or without leukospermia and investigated the effect of SLPI o n sperm motility reduced by elastase. Western blot analysis revealed t hat SLPI protein was detected in the seminal plasma. The SLPI titre in the seminal plasma with leukospermia was lower than that in the semin al plasma without leukospermia and in the seminal plasma of fertile do nors. The elastase concentration in the seminar plasma with leukosperm ia was significantly higher than that in the seminal plasma without le ukospermia. A significant correlation between SLPI and elastase concen trations in the seminal plasma (r = 0.36, P< 0.01) was observed. There was a positive correlation between SLPI titre in the seminal plasma a nd sperm motility (r = 0.51, P< 0.001). SLPI recovered the sperm motil ity reduced by elastase in a dose-dependent manner. Our results sugges t that SLPI is a potential substance to treat infertile patients with leukospermia.