title: Effects of Ureaplasma urealyticum Infection on Sperm Quality and Concentrations of Nitric Oxide and Cytokine in the Semen of Infertile Males.
abstract: The relationship between genital infection and two sperm parameters, namely, concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines [e.g., interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-18], in the semen of infertile males remains undetermined.
  
  
  
  Semen samples from 81 infertile (with or without Ureaplasma urealyticum infection) and normal males were subjected to semen analysis.
  
  
  
  Nitric oxide concentration in the semen of infertile males with genital infection was higher than those of infertile males without genital infection and of normal males (P < 0.05). Sperm density, pH, percentage of forward, movement of sperm, sperm activation rate, sperm survival rate, and normal rate of the sperm morphology of infertile males with U. urealyticum infection were significantly lower than those of infertile males without genital infection and of normal males (P < 0.05). NO concentrations were also positively correlated with IL-17 and IL-18 concentrations in the semen of infertile males.
  
  
  
  Increased NO concentration and abnormal IL-17 and IL-18 expression were induced by genital infection and induced damage to male reproductive capacity, thereby causing male infertility.
authors: Department of Medicine Laboratory, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Xinpu, China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Qian
authors: Department of Medicine Laboratory, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Xinpu, China.
authors: Guang-Rong
authors: GR
authors: Bian
authors: Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
authors: Hai-Bo
authors: HB
authors: Li
authors: Department of Medicine Laboratory, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Xinpu, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Xinpu, China.
authors: Shu-De
authors: SD
authors: Dong
authors: Department of Medicine Laboratory, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Xinpu, China.
authors: Wen-Jun
authors: WJ
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Infection, The People's Hospital of Guanyun County, Lianyungang, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D020382:Interleukin-18; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Ureaplasma urealyticum; infection; sperm