Leucocytes in the ejaculate from fertile and infertile men

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Immunology
• Andrology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Subclinical genital tract infections are often diagnosed by elevated white blood cell (leukocyte) counts in semen.
• The role of leukocytes and specific microbial infections in male infertility remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and significance of leukocytes and their subpopulations in the ejaculate of infertile men.
• To determine correlations between leukocyte counts, sperm parameters, sperm antibodies, and microbial cultures in infertile men.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of ejaculate from 69 infertile men and 12 fertile men.
• Immunoperoxidase technique using monoclonal antibodies to identify leukocyte subpopulations.
• Standard semen analysis, sperm antibody testing, and microbial cultures (aerobic, anaerobic, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis).

Main Results:

• Fertile men had significantly higher leukocyte counts compared to infertile men.
• Lymphocytes were present in 20% of infertile men.
• Microbial growth was observed in a similar proportion of both fertile and infertile groups.
• No significant correlation was found between leukocyte counts, sperm density, motility, sperm antibodies, or microbial growth.

Conclusions:

• Elevated leukocyte counts in semen may not be a reliable indicator of subclinical genital tract infection in infertile men.
• The findings question the diagnostic value of conventional criteria for subclinical genital tract infections based solely on leukocyte counts and positive microbial cultures.