[Leucocytospermia, oxidative stress and male fertility: facts and hypotheses].
Leukocytospermia is frequent and significantly increased (over 10(6)/ml) in 20% of male factor infertility. It induces the production of highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) which impair genital track accessory glands and sperm cell functions. The seminal medium contains extremely potent antioxidative defenses which usually balance the oxidative stress. In vivo, these defenses can be overwhelmed when ROS production is extremely important and/or when it lasts for a very long period of time. Infertility can then appear. In vitro, ROS have been univoqually demonstrated for being highly toxic since spermatozoa are no longer protected. Sperm cell defects are : decrease of acrosome reaction and fusiogenic ability and increase of DNA fragmentations. In case of male factor infertility, a leukocytospermia represents an essential or an additional risk factor that should be treated, specially when in vitro therapy is to be scheduled, in order to improve gamete quality.
Lemkecher
T
T
Laboratoire de biologie de la reproduction, service d'histologie-embryologie-cytogénétique, hôpital Jean-Verdier AP-HP, avenue du 14-Juillet, 93140 Bondy, France.
Dartigues
S
S
Vaysse
J
J
Kulski
O
O
Barraud-Lange
V
V
Gattegno
L
L
Wolf
J-P
JP
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005837:Genitalia, Male; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species