Necrospermia and chronic spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether improvement in quality of semen over 4 consecutive days of electroejaculation in men with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) was consistent with epididymal necrospermia.


METHODS
Prospective study of a random sample of men with SCI.


METHODS
A southeastern Australian SCI management center in collaboration with the specialist andrology service of a university-based department of obstetrics and gynecology in a tertiary referral hospital.


METHODS
Nine men with chronic spinal cord injury.


METHODS
Semen samples were obtained by using electroejaculation, and testicular biopsy samples were obtained by using fine-needle tissue aspiration.


METHODS
Semen analysis was performed according to World Health Organization criteria. Testicular biopsy and electron microscopy were done by using standard techniques.


RESULTS
During up to 4 days of consecutive-day electroejaculation, sperm motility and viability in semen obtained from men with chronic SCI increased by an average of 23% on days 2 and 3. The severity of the degenerative changes and the numbers of spermatozoa affected on day 1 became less marked by day 4. The changes were not present in late spermatids obtained from testicular biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
The asthenospermia of chronic SCI is similar to epididymal necrospermia and can be improved by consecutive-day electroejaculation.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. g.baker@obgyn-rwh.unimelb.edu.au
C
C
Mallidis
T C
TC
Lim
S T
ST
Hill
D J
DJ
Skinner
D J
DJ
Brown
W I
WI
Johnston
H W
HW
Baker
D000328:Adult; D004542:Ejaculation; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology