title: Semen quality and presence of cytokines in seminal fluid of bull ejaculates.
abstract: It has been postulated that cytokines play an immunoregulatory role in human semen. The presence and levels of various cytokines, namely the interleukins 6, 10 (IL-6 and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) were investigated in the seminal plasma of six fertile crossbred bulls (Bos taurus x Bos indicus), using specific enzyme immunoassay. Cytokine levels were related to the semen quality of these bulls. A direct significant correlation between the level of IL-10 and individual sperm motility (r=0.84, P<0.036) was observed. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were inversely correlated (r=-0.93, P<0.006) and likewise in the same way an inverse correlation between the level of IL-6 and TNFalpha was observed (r=-0.84, P<0.037). These results confirm that cytokines are present in bull semen as has been demonstrated in human semen.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Maracay, Venezuela. verao@camelot.rect.ucv.ve
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vásqucz
authors.forename: M Gladys
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10