title: Effect of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on human sperm motility, viability and motion parameters.
abstract: Male genital tract infections and non-specific inflammatory conditions may be associated with unexplained infertility. Previous studies have shown the presence of cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the semen of infertile men. However, the mechanism of effect of these cytokines on human sperm function is still controversial. The present study was undertaken to investigate the in-vitro effects of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma on human sperm motion, viability and the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST). Washed spermatozoa from normal volunteers (n = 9) were incubated in the presence/absence of TNF-alpha (1 microgram/mL) plus IFN-gamma (0.1 microgram/mL). Sperm motility, viability, HOST, and video sequences were recorded at different time intervals (0, 30, 60 and 180 min). Sperm motion parameters were analysed using computer-assisted semen analysis. There was a time-dependent negative effect of TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma on sperm motility, viability, HOST, and lateral-head displacement (ALH). The maximum decrease was observed between 60 and 180 min for sperm motility (50.8 +/- 5.6%), viability (52.8 +/- 4.0%), HOST (38 +/- 2%) and ALH (4.7 +/- 0.1 microns) compared to control samples (62.2 +/- 2.8, 62.4 +/- 2.9, 58 +/- 4, and 5.3 +/- 0.4, respectively; All p < 0.05). There was no significant effect on sperm straight-line velocity and mean linearity when compared to control. These data suggest that the common inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma have only partial detrimental effects on sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity and lateral head displacement, which may contribute to the poor fertilizing potential of human spermatozoa during inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajasekaran
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hellstrom
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sikka
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma