title: Antibiotic therapy for seminal infection. Effect on antioxidant activity and T-helper cytokines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of antibiotic therapy on seminal infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The seminal plasma of 50 men was evaluated in three groups: (1) men with seminal infection (20), (2) men with leukocytospermia only (18), and (3) men of proven fertility (12). The evaluation protocol included semen analysis, culture and antibiotic sensitivity test, total antioxidant activity, alpha-tocopherol and retinol, T-helper cytokines, IL-2, IL-8, IL-4 and antisperm antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sperm parameters were worse with seminal infection: 25 versus 84 million per milliliter for fertile men. Antioxidant activity, total alpha-tocopherol and retinol were reduced in leukocytospermia (P < .02, .01) and seminal infection (P < .01, .05) as compared to controls. Antisperm antibodies IL-2 and IL-8 were highly expressed, while IL-4 was low in men with leukocytospermia and bacteriospermia. Gram-negative organisms were more associated with expression of T-helper 1 cytokines than T-helper 2 cytokines. Antibiotic therapy significantly improved the sperm parameters, antioxidant activity and IL-4 but reduced IL-2 and IL-8 and had no effect on antisperm antibody titer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antibiotic therapy improves sperm parameters by increasing antioxidant activity and IL-4 and by reducing IL-2 and IL-8.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Omu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: al-Othman
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mohamad
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: al-Kaluwby
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000382:microbiology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D015847:Interleukin-4