title: Factors affecting sperm fertilizing capacity in men infected with HIV.
abstract: Studies on the sperm-fertilizing capacity of HIV-seropositive men show conflicting results for reasons that are not yet clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and relationships of some factors such as patient age, CD4(+) cells count, fathering offspring, concomitant sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and receipt of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on sperm fertilizing capacity. Semen samples were collected from 33 HIV-seropositive men. Data on the above factors were acquired from a self-designed questionnaire. Computer-assisted sperm analysis, a hypo-osmotic swelling, and zona-free hamster oocyte penetration tests were performed according to criteria of the World Health Organization. CD4(+) cells in peripheral blood were examined using a flow cytometric (FCM) analyzer. Sperm vitality, sperm motility (grades a + b), total sperm motility, and sperm penetration rates were significantly higher in patients whose CD4(+) counts were ≧350/µl than in those whose CD4(+) counts were <350/µl (P < 0.05), and the parameters mentioned above were also significantly correlated with CD4(+) cell number (all P < 0.05). Significant differences in total sperm count and sperm tail swelling rate between patients co-infected with STD and without STD were observed (P < 0.05). Sperm penetration rate in patients receiving HAART was significantly higher than in those not receiving HAART (P < 0.05). Blood CD4(+) cell counts are an important indicator for evaluating sperm fertilizing capacity of HIV-seropositive men. After receiving HAART, the sperm penetration rate of HIV-seropositive men can be improved.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China; Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Dian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lianbing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qingdong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Mingfu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Tianhua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D006224:Cricetinae; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CD4 count; HIV-seropositive men; fertilizing capacity; relationship; sperm parameters; sperm penetration rate