Activity and localization of isocitric dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline and acid phosphatase of the human vas deferens

Acid phosphatase levels in follicular fluids following induction of ovulation in in vitro fertilization patients

Considerable evidence indicates that changes in acid phosphatase (AP) activity at the ovarian level play a role in the process of ovulation. In this study the concentrations of AP were determined in follicular fluids collected from follicles of 52 women at the time of laparoscopy performed in connection with an in vitro fertilization program. In each of the 52 women at least one ovum was harvested. Of the 52 ova, 28 cleaved in vitro, while in 24 ova cleavage was not seen. Levels of AP in follicular fluids of women whose ova did not cleave were significantly lower than those found in follicular fluids of women with at least one ovum undergoing cleavage: 0.45 +/- 0.14 (SE) and 4.78 +/- 0.37 Bess Lowry Units (BLU), respectively. Comparison of AP levels in follicular fluids of women who conceived (5) and women whose ova cleaved, but in whom pregnancy was not achieved (23), did not reveal significant differences: 5.87 +/- 1.29 and 4.55 +/- 0.35 BLU, respectively. Moreover, the enzyme level was typical for a woman and not for a follicle. Fluids of two different follicles of the same woman, when one ovum cleaved and one did not, showed similar AP levels. AP levels were high in all samples follicles of women in whom at least one ovum cleaved. These findings indicate that the presence of certain levels of acid phosphatase represents an important, albeit not the sole, condition for ovum maturation. Moreover, the follicular fluid levels of AP could serve as an indicator of proper timing of the follicular puncture in relation to the human chorionic gonadotropin injection (or the luteinizing hormone peak).

Aminopeptidase in human seminal plasma

Aminopeptidase of seminal plasma was studied in normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermic men. Significantly higher activity was observed in non-obstructive azoospermic patients than that of other three groups. L-Alanine beta-naphthylamide hydrochloride was found to have highest hydrolysis rate in comparison to various other aminoacyl beta-naphthylamide hydrochlorides which were used for determining substrate specificity. 50% inhibitions of the enzyme activity by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline were obtained at 5.77 X 10(-3) M and 3.13 X 10(-6) M concentrations respectively. A single band for aminopeptidase in the activity - gel electrophoresis was obtained for all the categories of seminal plasma and the enzyme exhibited the characteristics of metalloprotein.