Background: Partial obstruction is roughly defined as the presence of oligozoospermia with normal or nearly normal sperm
production in the seminiferous tubules. The obstruction can occur at any site along the male genital tract. Broadly speaking, diagnosis of obstructive oligozoospermia could be suggested by some findings in history (e.g. of trauma or infection), in examination&/or investigations (e.g. epididymal swelling or marked discrepancy between testicular size and previous sperm counts) but most strongly, by the lack of correlation between score of mature spermatids (Sc + d) in the
testicular biopsy and the sperm concentration in the semen analysis. Aim of work: To evaluate the relation between the levels of IGF-1 and α2-macroglobulinin predicting testicular sperm output of the testicles as judged from quantitative analysis of testicular biopsy in oligozoospermic cases. Patients and methods: 40 oligozoospermic patients were
subjected to full history taking, complete general and local examinations, scrotal duplex, semen analysis, blood chemistry,
hormonal profile, bilateral open testicular biopsies and measurement of seminal IGF-1 and α2-macroglobulin.
Results: Patients are divided into 2 groups; group I with likely or partial obstruction and group II with unlikely or no obstruction. There is a lack of correlation between IGF-1 & α2-macroglobulin and expected sperm count (from quantitative testicular biopsy) in both groups. Conclusion: IGF-1 & α2-macroglobulin are not reliable markers for partial obstruction of the male genital system.