Paradoxical increase of sperm motility and seminal carnitine associated with moderate leukocytospermia in infertile patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between seminal polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocytes and sperm functions (particularly sperm motility) in infertile men.


METHODS
A prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Assisted fertilization program in an academic research environment in France.


METHODS
Infertile men (n = 138) evaluated and classified as follows: group A with no detectable PMN in semen, group B with less than 0.5 x 10(6)/mL, group C with 0.5-1 x 10(6)/mL, and group D > 1 x 10(6)/mL.


METHODS
Seminal PMN, elastase concentrations, and sperm characteristics were analyzed. Seminal biochemical markers (free L-carnitine, citrate, zinc, acid phosphatase, and fructose) were measured.


METHODS
Relation between seminal markers and sperm motility.


RESULTS
Grade "b" motility and epididymal carnitine were statistically significantly increased in group C. Acid phosphatase was the only seminal marker to be statistically significantly impaired in group D. Elastase was proportional to the degree of leukocytospermia.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that sperm PMN originate from two regions: [1] the epididymis, where in small numbers and activated they may play a favorable role in sperm quality, and the [2] prostate, where their presence in large numbers, reflecting prostatitis, induces decreased secretion, especially of acid phosphatase.
Ziyyat
Ahmed
A
Biologie de la Reproduction, UFR SMBH, Université Paris 13, Bobigny, France.
Barraud-Lange
Virginie
V
Sifer
Christophe
C
Ducot
Béatrice
B
Wolf
Jean-Philippe
JP
Soufir
Jean-Claude
JC
D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002331:Carnitine / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000032:analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; C428439:prostatic acid phosphatase; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D002331:Carnitine