Glass wool filtration reduces reactive oxygen species by elimination of leukocytes in oligozoospermic patients with leukocytospermia.
OBJECTIVE
Two types of glass wool were used to remove leukocytes in semen for evaluation of reactive oxygen species production by spermatozoa in oligozoospermic patients with leukocytospermia.


METHODS
Semen samples were prepared using fine-structure glass wool (SpermFertil) and coarse-structure glass wool. In each treatment group, native semen was evaluated for sperm concentration, percentage motility, viability, leukocyte concentration, and production of reactive oxygen species.


RESULTS
Electron microscopically, SpermFertil showed a higher number of leukocytes attached to the fibers compared to coarse-structure glass wool. Leukocytes in native semen and after glass wool filtration as determined by peroxidase cytochemistry confirmed this observation. Reactive oxygen species decreased from 45.303 counts/10(7) viable cells in native semen to 15.806 counts/10(7) cells in coarse structure wool and 7.465 counts/10(7) cells in Spermfertil, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Removal of leukocytes from semen of oligozoospermic patients by means of glass wool filtration is a useful method to distinguish production of reactive oxygen species by leukocytes versus sperm cells.
Sánchez
R
R
Department of Preclinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, La Frontera University, Temuco, Chile.
Concha
M
M
Ichikawa
T
T
Henkel
R
R
Schill
W B
WB
D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C009753:fiberglass; D009195:Peroxidase