| Abstract
| - BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), have been detected in reproductive tissues and seminal plasma. The purpose of this study was to quantify MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in human seminal plasma and to evaluate their association with sperm. METHODS: Seminal plasma was analysed using ELISA assays for all four analytes in 12 normozoospermic and 12 azoospermic patients and then for MMP-2 only in another 114 men with azoospermia (n = 16), after vasectomy (n = 20) and with sperm counts within the following ranges: 0.3-19×106/ml (n = 20), 20-23×106/ml (n = 11), 49-57×106/ml (n = 12), 96-110×106/ml (n = 12), 139-161×106/ml (n = 12) and 215-346×106/ml (n = 11). Additional zymographic analyses using SDS-PAGE were performed. RESULTS: All investigated MMPs and TIMPs were detected. MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were not significantly different in normozoospermia and azoospermia. Only the MMP-2 concentration was significantly decreased in azoospermic compared with normozoospermic patients (mean ± SD: 650.6 ± 288.9 versus 1677 ± 910.4 ng/ml respectively; P = 0.0002) and significantly correlated with the number of sperm (r = 0.54; P< 0.0001). CONCLUSION: MMP-2 in seminal plasma was strongly correlated to the sperm count in a linear fashion. Its origin and potential function remain to be elucidated.
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