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Sperm Microbiota and Its Impact on Semen Parameters.
David Baud1, Céline Pattaroni2,3, Nicolas Vulliemoz4
1Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department Woman Mother Child, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|February 28, 2019
Summary
The male genital tract microbiota is understudied. While overall bacterial composition didn't correlate with sperm quality, specific bacteria like Prevotella and Lactobacillus showed links to sperm motility and morphology.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Reproductive Biology
- Human Health
Background:
- The microbiota of the male genital tract remains less explored compared to the female counterpart.
- Understanding seminal fluid's bacterial composition is crucial for male reproductive health.
- Previous research suggests a potential link between microbial imbalance and impaired sperm quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bacterial composition of seminal fluid in men.
- To evaluate the impact of seminal microbiota on sperm parameters, including count, concentration, motility, and morphology.
- To test the hypothesis that dysbiotic microbiota influences sperm quality.
Main Methods:
- 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used for microbiota profiling.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) determined the total bacterial load in semen samples.
- Semen samples were collected from men with normal and abnormal spermiograms and stratified by key sperm parameters.
Main Results:
- Semen microbiota broadly clustered into Prevotella-enriched, Lactobacillus-enriched, and polymicrobial profiles.
- Prevotella-enriched samples exhibited the highest bacterial load.
- No significant correlation was found between overall microbiota composition (beta-diversity) or diversity (alpha-diversity) and spermiogram parameters.
- Specific genera, Prevotella and Lactobacillus, showed differential abundance linked to sperm motility and morphology, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Overall seminal microbiota composition and diversity do not appear to be major factors in male infertility.
- Specific bacterial genera, rather than the overall microbiota, may influence spermatozoal physiology, particularly motility and morphology.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore strategies for cultivating a healthy seminal microbiota.
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