The effect of bacteriospermia and leukocytospermia on conventional and nonconventional semen parameters in healthy young normozoospermic males.
Bacterial semen inflammation/infection is an important diagnostic and therapeutic problem in contemporary andrology. The molecular mechanism by which inflammatory mediators compromise the fertilizing potential of germ cells is complex and multifactorial, and it remains unclear. To improve the understanding of the pathophysiology of human subfertility/infertility caused or complicated by reproductive tract inflammation/infection, we simultaneously evaluated a set of conventional (standard semen analysis) and nonconventional sperm parameters, including subcellular changes in sperm membranes (phospholipid scrambling, peroxidative damage, and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization), mitochondria (mitochondrial transmembrane potential, ΔYm, and oxidoreductive capability), and DNA fragmentation in healthy young normozoospermic males with asymptomatic bacteriospermia and leukocytospermia. Both bacteriospermia and leukocytospermia had a deleterious effect on standard sperm parameters, including sperm concentration, motility and morphology. Bacteriospermia was associated with a simultaneous decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and an increase in PS externalization, and with DNA fragmentation in both live and dead sperm. The highest MDA concentrations in sperm lysates were observed in the presence of leukocytes. This study demonstrates for the first time that bacteriospermia and leukocytospermia compromise sperm quality in healthy young normozoospermic males. Bacteria mainly participate in intrinsic mitochondria-dependent apoptotic cell death mechanisms. Oxidative stress plays a relevant role in decreasing routine sperm parameters during leukocytospermia. The value of these observations may be significant and may support the development of a new diagnostic platform (biomarkers) for infertile males with infections in the reproductive tract.
Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479 Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: framon@man.poznan.pl.
Monika
M
Fraczek
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dojazd 11, 60-632, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Hryhorowicz
Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, Zolnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland.
Kamil
K
Gill
Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
Marta
M
Zarzycka
Department of Animal Reproduction, Biotechnology and Environmental Hygiene, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Judyma 6, 71-466 Szczecin, Poland.
Dariusz
D
Gaczarzewicz
Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535 Poznan, Poland.
Piotr
P
Jedrzejczak
Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Cracow, Poland.
Barbara
B
Bilinska
Department of Histology and Developmental Biology, Pomeranian Medical University, Zolnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland.
Malgorzata
M
Piasecka
Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479 Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: kurpimac@man.poznan.pl.
Maciej
M
Kurpisz
D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D000072660:Teratozoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers
Bacteriospermia; Leukocytospermia; Oxidative stress; Sperm apoptosis