Objective: To find the difference between the levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor(uPAR) in the seminal plasma and sperm of fertile and oligoasthenozoospermia men, and to understand their correlation with male fertility.
Methods: The levels of uPA in the seminal plasma and sperm of 22 normospermic males and 44 oligoasthenozoospermia patients were measured by ELISA.
Results: (1) The average level of uPA in the seminal plasma and sperm of the normospermic group, ([4803.69 +/- 602.78] mU/L) and ([30.29 +/- 3.16] mU/10(6) sperm) were higher than those of the oligoasthenozoospermia group, ([4061.35 +/- 736.23] mU/L), and ([20.51 +/- 4.2] mU/10(6) sperm) (P < 0.01). (2) The average level of uPAR in the sperm of the normospermic group ([12.97 +/- 3.11] mU/10(6) sperm) was significantly higher than that of the oligoasthenozoospermia group, ([6.09 +/- 1.45] mU/10(6) sperm) (P < 0.01). (3) The levels of uPA and uPAR in the sperm and the content of uPA in the seminal plasma were positively correlated with sperm motility and viability.
Conclusion: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator is related with male fertility and the levels of uPA and uPAR vary in the seminal plasma and sperm of fertile and oligoasthenozoospermia males.