Herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, human sperm and assisted fertilization.
BACKGROUND
The effect of viral particles on the motility of human sperm and the relationship between sperm and virus are of importance particularly in assisted fertilization.


METHODS
We incubated ejaculated sperm with or without seminal fluid with either herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) or human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). For each experiment, 5 x 10(5) sperm were incubated with a viral load of between 10(4) and 10(6) plaque-forming units.


RESULTS
We detected no apparent variations in the percentage of motile forms when sperm were incubated with either HSV2 or HCMV. Using a computer-aided semen analysis system, a slight difference was reported in the percentage of motile forms when seminal fluid-free sperm were incubated with HSV2 (57.18 versus 64.43 in the control). Although the mean amplitude of lateral head displacement and the curvilinear velocity were significantly higher in infected sperm, the difference in straight line velocity was not statistically significantly different. Few viral particles (HSV2 or HCMV) adhered to the sperm membrane in the presence of seminal fluid. However, more particles stuck when in the absence of seminal fluid, particularly with HSV2 (8% of sperm sections for HSV2; 4% for HCMV).


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between sperm and viruses depends on the type of virus present as well as the presence or absence of seminal fluid. Motility is not a good enough criterion on which to prove the presence of viral elements, either in the medium or on the sperm.
Pallier
Coralie
C
Service de Bactériologie-Virologie-Parasitologie-Hygiène, CHU Bicêtre, Paris-Sud, 78 rue du Général Leclerc, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, , France.
Tebourbi
Lamia
L
Chopineau-Proust
Stéphanie
S
Schoevaert
Damien
D
Nordmann
Patrice
P
Testart
Jacques
J
Courtot
Anne-Marie
AM
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology