[Macrophages in human semen].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence of macrophages in human semen samples and the function they carry out in the seminal fluid. Their presence was studied in relation to spermatic morphology, percentage of spermatozoids with native DNA, and presence of antispermatic antibodies.


RESULTS
The work was performed with semen samples from 31 unfertile males from 63 couples in which the "female factor" was ruled out as the cause of infertility. Sperm study according to WHO (1992) was carried out in all samples, in addition to: DNA study with acridine orange as fluorocrom, macrophage concentration by neutral red in a Neubauer camera, and detection of antispermatic antibodies with a mixed agglutination test (TAC II) (validated with Mar Screen-Fertility technologies). Sperm morphology was evaluated by Papanicolaou test. 19/31 selected sperm samples (61.3%) showed increased concentration of macrophages, 13 of them (41.9%) with denaturalized DNA, and 8 (25.8%) abnormal morphology. Six samples showed increased macrophage concentration and predominance of native DNA, whereas 11 samples showed increased macrophages and abnormal morphology. Among 18 (58.1%) samples showing antispermatic antibodies 14 (77.7%) had an increased concentration of macrophages. Statistical analysis resulted in a high correlation between macrophage concentration and increased percentage of spermatozoids with denaturalized DNA (p < 0.05). An increased concentration of macrophages is associated with the presence of antispermatic antibodies (p < 0.05). There was not evidence of significant association between concentration of macrophages and percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoids (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We can conclude that macrophages are present in human semen and participate in immunovigilance contributing to improve the seminal quality.
Bouvet
Beatriz Reina
BR
Area Inmunología, Area Química Analítica Clínica, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. beatrizbouvet@infovia.com.ar
Brufman
Adriana Silvia
AS
Paparella
Cecilia Vicenta
CV
Feldman
Rodolfo Nestor
RN
Gatti
Vanda Nora
VN
Solis
Edita Amalia
EA
D002452:Cell Count; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology*; D013076:Sperm Count