Study on the relationship between different cytokines in the semen of infertility patients.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between different cytokines in the semen of infertility patients was investigated.


METHODS
Fifty-seven semen samples were collected from infertility and normal group at Lianyungang Maternal and Child Hospital. Routine analysis including determination of the levels of IL-23, IL-6, and TNF-α was carried out.


RESULTS
Density, percentage of sperm moving forward, activity, survival rate, and proportion of normal morphology of sperm of normal group were significantly higher than those of infertility group (P<0.001). Amount and pH of the semen from the two groups showed no difference. However, there is a significant difference in IL-23 contents of semen in the normal (5.87 pg/mL) and abnormal (11.14 pg/mL) group (P<0.001). The correlation coefficients (R) of the contents of IL-23 to IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were 0.8706 (R(2)=0.758, P<0.001), 0.9725 (R(2)=0.9458, P<0.001), and 0.9499 (R(2)=0.9024, P<0.001), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-23 contents of semen are different in the normal and abnormal group and have positive correlations between IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, respectively.
Central Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Liayungang City, 10 Camgwu Road, Lianyungang, China. qianli008@yahoo.com
Li
L
Qian
Gang
G
Sun
Baocheng
B
Zhou
Gang
G
Wang
Jicheng
J
Song
HaoMing
H
He
D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines