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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Collection of Post-mating Semen from the Female Reproductive Tract and Measurement of Semen Liquefaction in Mice
Published on: November 18, 2017
Semen leukocytes: friends or foes?
A A Kiessling1, N Lamparelli, H Z Yin
1Harvard/Deaconess Surgical Service, Faulkner Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that male reproductive tract leukocytes function in the elimination of abnormal spermatozoa from ejaculated semen.
Design:
Semen specimens with > or = 2 x 10(6) nonspermatozoal cells/mL were examined for leukocytes and for mature sperm with ideal morphology.
Setting:
Andrology laboratory of a Center of Assisted Reproductive Technology.
Results:
Semen specimens with elevated concentrations of leukocytes contained a significantly higher frequency of sperm with ideal morphology than semen specimens with elevated numbers of immature germ cells and low numbers of leukocytes.
Conclusions:
The direct correlation between leukocyte density and sperm with ideal morphology supports the concept that sperm surveillance is a normal function of male reproductive tract leukocytes. Understanding such germ cell-leukocyte interactions may provide valuable new insights into immunologic control mechanisms in male reproductive tract tissues.
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