Seminal immune response in infertile men with leukocytospermia: effect on antioxidant activity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of leukocytospermia and relation to T helper cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), antisperm antibodies and antioxidant activity.


METHODS
Semen samples from 176 infertile men and 24 fertile controls were investigated.


METHODS
The protocol included tubal patency test, hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy and dye test and ovulation through mid-luteal phase progesterone for the wives. The husbands had semen analysis, cytomorphology evaluation and semen culture. Seminal TNFalpha and IL-4, antisperm antibodies, total antioxidant activity, superoxide dismutase and zinc were determined.


RESULTS
Leukocytospermia occurred in 44.3% of the infertile men compared to 12.5% of the fertile men (P<0.01). Thirty-six (20.5%) men had pathogenic bacterial organisms which constituted 46.2% of those with leukocytospermia. Sperm parameters were worse with leukocytospermia in terms of sperm count (P<0.01), total motility progressive motility (P<0.01), morphology, asthenozoospermia, sperm membrane integrity and antisperm antibodies. TNFalpha and IL-4 had an inverse relationship; the expression of TNFalpha was higher with leukocytospermia and bacteriospermia (P<0.001), while IL-4 was higher in fertile controls (P<0.005). Incidence of antisperm antibodies was higher with leukocytospermia. Total antioxidant activity, superoxide dismutase and zinc were lower with leukocytospermia.


CONCLUSIONS
Leukocytospermia impairs sperm function through reduced antioxidant activity and enhanced T helper 1 modulation.
Omu
A E
AE
Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat.
Al-Qattan
F
F
Al-Abdul-Hadi
F M
FM
Fatinikun
M T
MT
Fernandes
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D015994:Incidence; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000975:Antioxidants; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4