Affiliations: Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry,
Wrocław Medical University, Bujwida 44a, Wrocław, Poland | Embryology Laboratory InviMed – European Center of
Motherhood, Rakowiecka 36, 02-532 Warsaw, Poland, and Warsaw University of Life
Sciences Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Large Animal Diseases and
Clinic Division of Animal Reproduction, Andrology and Biotechnology of
Reproduction, Nowoursynowska 100, Warszawa – Wolica, Poland
Note: [] Corresponding author: Ewa Maria Kratz, PhD, Department of
Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wrocław Medical University, Bujwida 44a,
50-345 Wrocław, Poland. Tel.: +48 713282695; Fax: +48 713281649; E-mail:
kratz@immchem.am.wroc.pl
Abstract: Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare fucose and sialic
acid residue expression on fibronectin and α _{1}-acid glycoprotein in
the seminal plasma of men suspected of infertility and suffering from
leukocytospermia. Subjects and methods: Seminal ejaculates were collected
from 27 leukocytospermic and 18 healthy, normozoospermic men. The relative
degree of fucosylation and sialylation of fibronectin and α _{1}-acid
glycoprotein was estimated by ELISA using fucose and sialic acid specific
lectins from Aleuria aurantia, Lotus tetragonolobus, and Ulex
europaeus as well as Maackia amurensis and Sambucus nigra,
respectively. Results: Leukocytospermic seminal fibronectin, in
comparison with fibronectin of normal fertile group, showed lower relative
reactivity with AAL, LTA and UEA, and higher reactivity with MAA and SNA, while
the AGP of the leukocytospermic group was less reactive with AAL, and the
relative reactivity with LTA and MAA was significantly higher. Fibronectin and
α _{1}-acid glycoprotein reactivity with UEA and MAA showed high
positive correlations. Discussion: Leukocytospermia was associated with
the alterations of terminal monosaccharide expression in human seminal
fibronectin and α _{1}-acid glycoprotein. The increase of
sialyl-Lewis^{\rm x} antigen in α _{1}-acid glycoprotein can be used
as a marker of genital tract inflammation manifested by leukocytospermia.
