Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship of seminal plasma neutral alpha-1, 4- glycosidase (α-1, 4-G)activity with seminal main parameters and seminal hyaluronidase(HYD) activity(HYD positive rate and HYD activity intensity) in infertile patients. Methods A total of 52 infertile patients′ semen, who were between 24 and 40 years old, were collected, and 12 healthy controls were enrolled. The semen quality of each semen specimen was analyzed by sperm quality analysis instrument and computer-assisted sperm analysis. The enzyme method was used to detect the neutral α-1, 4-G activity. The HYD positive rate and HYD activity intensity were determined by improved fixed-substrate film method. According to the Results of neutral α-1, 4-G activity, the 52 infertile patients were classified into 39 cases of neutral α-1, 4-G activity normal group (activity normal group) and 13 cases of neutral α-1, 4-G activity abnormal group (activity abnormal group). Results There were significantly positive correlations of neutral α-1, 4-G activity with sperm concentration, sperm viability and HYD activity(HYD positive rate and HYD activity intensity) (r=0.816, 0.890, 0.872 and 0.847, P< 0.01). There was negative correlation with sperm malformation rate (r=-0.579, P<0.01). Sperm concentration, sperm viability and HYD activity(HYD positive rate and HYD activity intensity in infertile group were lower than those in control group(P<0.01). The sperm malformation rate in activity abnormal group was higher than that in activity normal group(P<0.01). Results The seminal plasma neutral α-1, 4-G activity could affect sperm concentration, sperm viability, sperm malformation rate and HYD activity (HYD positive rate and HYD activity intensity).

Key words: Neutral alpha-1, 4-glycosidase, Hyaluronidase, Male infertility, Semen