title: [Association of antioxidants and natural immune activators in the treatment of astheno-teratospermia and abacterial leukocytosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Leukocytes are often present in human seminal plasma and more frequently in infertile men. Leukocytospermia is associated with sperm morphological and functional alterations. Immune cell activation leads to an increase of free radical production, without any antioxidant defence activation. Leukocyte presence during sperm maturation and migration through male genital tract and consequently exposure to reactive oxygen species led to sperm alteration: axonemal, acrosomal and nuclear structure damage, associated with necrosis. In order to evaluate the immune-modulating and antioxidative activity of beta-glucan, fermented papaya and lactoferrin associated with vitamins C and E, we analysed sperm characteristics of selected infertile male with astheno-teratospermia and abacterial leukocytosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 20 patients referred to our Sterility Centre for semen analysis with leukocyte concentration higher than 1x106 cell/mL. Seminal quality evaluation was performed according to WHO guidelines (1999) using Papanicolau and eosin staining, before and after three months of treatment with beta-glucan, papaya, lactoferrin, vitamin C and E.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After therapy, seminal analysis showed a significant reduction of leukocyte concentration and an increase of sperm motility and normal sperm morphology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that a combined immunomodulating and antioxidant treatment protect sperm cells during maturation and migration through the male genital tract, resulting in a functional rescue demonstrated by the improvement of semen quality.
authors.affiliation: Centro Sterilità di Coppia, Dipartimento di Ginecologia e Ostetricia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gambera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campanella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piomboni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serafini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgante
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Leo
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029441:Carica; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000975:Antioxidants; D047071:beta-Glucans; D014810:Vitamin E; D007781:Lactoferrin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid