[Identification and characterisation of immune cells in the ejaculate of infertile and fertile men]

Using the immunoperoxidase technique with monoclonal antibodies the ejaculates of 20 infertile and 15 fertile men were examined for lymphocyte subsets and activation markers to know more about the cellular mucosal immunity in the male genital tract. The results have shown that there are small differences of T-helper (CD4), T-suppressor (CD8), B- (CD19) and Natural Killer cells (CD57) between both groups. The number of monocytes (CD14), activated T- and B-cells and macrophages (CD25), the LCA-positive cells (CD45) and the HLA-DR-positive cells were remarkably increased in fertile patients. It has been established that the number of NK-cells (CD57) correlated with mycoplasma infection and the B-cells (CD19) correlated with the testosterone level. It seems that the increased testosterone value improved the cellular immunity. Infertile men have a disturbed mucosal immunity and a higher rate of genital infections.