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Semin Thromb Hemost 2007; 33(1): 021-028
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-958458
Copyright © 2007 by Thieme Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Human Seminal Plasma Fibrinolytic Activity

Patrick Van Dreden1 , Carlo Audrey1 , Rousseau Aurélie1
  • 1Stago Research and Development, Gennevilliers, France
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 January 2007 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The distribution of total fibrinolytic activity in seminal plasma, as well as specific tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI), has been studied using antigen and activity techniques in 170 ejaculates of men attending for assessment because of infertility without genital urinary pathology. Among these 170 patients, 18 showed oligoasthenoteratospermia, 28 showed azoospermia, and 124 showed normozoospermia. The seminal values were 50 times higher (262 to 289 ng/mL in antigen and 179 to 199 × 103 IU/L for activity) than values in blood for t-PA and 15 times higher than values in blood for u-PA (18.4 to 26 ng/mL and 1.5 to 2.4 IU/mL, respectively). There was no correlation between the two levels in antigen or activity, but a higher concentration was observed in all first fractions from split ejaculates measurements. Moreover, t-PA was significantly lower in semen with abnormal liquefaction compared with semen exhibiting normal liquefaction. Zymography confirms the active forms. PAI was absent or at the detection limit for normozoospermia, whereas patients with oligoasthenoteratospermia or azoospermia showed high PAI antigen and activity levels. These data demonstrate that seminal PA activity may be related to sperm fertilizing capacity.

KEYWORDS

Human seminal plasma - plasminogen activator - plasminogen activator inhibitor - spermatozoa - fibrinolysis

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Patrick Van DredenPh.D. 

Stago R&D, Recherche Prospective, PAE Parispace 3, 125 avenue Louis Roche

92635 Gennevilliers Cedex, France

Email: pvandreden@stago.fr