Leukocyte subtypes in electroejaculates of spinal cord injured men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the level of leukocytospermia and seminal leukocyte subtypes in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the findings with those of fertile, able-bodied controls.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
University infertility practice.


METHODS
Thirteen able-bodied fertile men age matched to 17 men with SCI seeking reproductive rehabilitation.


METHODS
Vibratory stimulation and antegrade electroejaculation for SCI group; manual ejaculation for controls.


METHODS
Immunoperoxidase technique on a panel of antileukocyte monoclonal antibodies to obtain the leukocyte subpopulations: B cells, T cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. Immunohistochemical staining and scoring to obtain the mean number of leukocytes and spermatozoa per high power field. The ratios of leukocyte to sperm and leukocyte subtype to sperm were tabulated.


RESULTS
Total white blood cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in the SCI population were significantly higher than those in the ejaculates of controls. Although not significantly elevated, all the other evaluated subsets were higher in the SCI group then in the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Leukocytospermia appears to be a pervasive abnormality in the semen recovered from men with SCI. The SCI group had significant elevations of total seminal leukocytes after electroejaculation. Compared with controls, men with SCI had significantly more seminal neutrophils and macrophages. Asthenospermia, universally observed in men with SCI, may be attributable, among other causes, to leukocytospermia.
Trabulsi
Edouard J
EJ
Department of Urology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Shupp-Byrne
Dolores
D
Sedor
John
J
Hirsch
Irvin H
IH
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004542:Ejaculation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014732:Vibration
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species