The presence of bacteria species in semen and sperm quality.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the prevalence of semen bacterial contamination and whether the contamination could decrease sperm quality.


METHODS
Spermiogram, semen culture, and sperm transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis were performed. TEM data were elaborated using a mathematical formula that calculates a fertility index (FI)--able to define patients as fertile or infertile--and the percentage of sperm apoptosis, immaturity and necrosis. We aligned the amino acid sequence of beta-tubulin with protein of the most frequent species isolated from semen.


RESULTS
Patients were divided according to the contaminating species; in each group, we observed fertile individuals, in whom the semen quality was similar to that of controls and infertile men whose sperm quality was significantly decreased, in terms of motility, FI, apoptosis and necrosis. Partial homology between beta-tubulin and bacterial proteins was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Sperm bacterial contamination is quite frequent and could contribute to the deterioration of the sperm quality of infertile men.
Moretti
Elena
E
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Biology Section, Interdepartmental Centre for Research and Therapy of Male Infertility, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Siena, Italy.
Capitani
Serena
S
Figura
Natale
N
Pammolli
Andrea
A
Federico
Maria Grazia
MG
Giannerini
Valentina
V
Collodel
Giulia
G
D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D014404:Tubulin