Seminal macrophages in ejaculates from men with couple infertility

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Immunology
• Andrology

Background:

• Seminal macrophages are rarely studied, and their role in ejaculate evaluation is unclear.
• Activated macrophages engaging in sperm phagocytosis (spermiophages) may indicate innate immune system activation.
• The clinical significance of spermiophages in non-leukocytospermic ejaculates from infertile men requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between spermiophages in non-leukocytospermic ejaculates and altered sperm parameters in men with couple infertility.
• To determine if spermiophages serve as a marker for innate immune system activation in the context of male infertility.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 434 ejaculates, excluding samples with antisperm antibodies or >1x10^6 leukocytes/mL.
• Semen quality parameters were compared between samples with and without spermiophages.
• Spermiophages were identified using transmission electron microscopy.

Main Results:

• Spermiophages were present in 27% of analyzed ejaculates.
• Presence of spermiophages was associated with significantly decreased sperm total count (p < 0.0001) and forward motility (p = 0.048).
• Spermiophages were linked to an increased fraction of degenerating sperm (p = 0.0002) and independently predicted by low sperm count and high degeneration rates.

Conclusions:

• Activated macrophages (spermiophages) are frequently found in non-leukocytospermic ejaculates of infertile men.
• Spermiophages are associated with poorer sperm quality, including reduced count, motility, and increased degeneration.
• Further quantitative studies are needed to define the clinical relevance of seminal macrophages in male infertility evaluation and oligoasthenozoospermia.