title: Fertilizing potential of ejaculated human spermatozoa during in vitro semen bacterial infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the in vitro effect of three bacterial isolates (Escherichia coli, serotype O75:HNT, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and Bacteroides ureolyticus) and/or leukocytes on sperm motility, subcellular changes in sperm plasma membranes, and sperm fertilizing potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in vitro model of semen bacterial infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basic research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy normozoospermic volunteers and healthy blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm plasma membrane stability was evaluated with a LIVE/DEAD Sperm Viability Kit and with the merocyanine 540 (M540) test both performed using flow cytometry. An oxiSelect TBARS Assay Kit was used for quantitative measurement of malondialdehyde content. Functional ability of spermatozoa was assessed by hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test and sperm penetration assay (SPA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incubation of sperm with bacteria and/or leukocytes was associated with the reduction of their fertilizing potential demonstrated in both the HOS test and SPA, and this effect can be considered as a natural consequence of diminished motility and sperm membrane injury of lipid bilayers. Bacteroides ureolyticus demonstrated the most significant detrimental effect on sperm structure and function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm motility and lipid sperm membrane status might be the earliest and the most sensitive indicators of sperm damage with negative consequences for male factor fertility, which can be attributed to both bacteria and leukocytes action.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fraczek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiland
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology and Developmental Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piasecka
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boksa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaczarzewicz
authors.affiliation: Unit of Microbiology, Hospital Medical College, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szumala-Kakol
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kolanowski
authors.affiliation: National Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli, Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Department of Biological Safety, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beutin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: kurpimac@man.poznan.pl.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurpisz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D004542:Ejaculation; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D041162:Staphylococcus haemolyticus; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Semen bacterial infection; sperm fertilizing potential; sperm plasma membranes