[Detection of plus and minus strand hepatitis C virus RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and spermatid]

Plus and minus strands of HCV RNA in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), sperm and spermatid of 8 patients with chronic hepatitis C were tested by the method of PCR to find out whether HCV exists and duplicates in extrahepatic cells or not. Plus HCV RNA was detected in all the plasma samples, but no minus HCV RNA was detected. Plus strand HCV RNA was detected in 5 of 8 PBMC samples and minus strand in 2 of the 5 samples. Three of 5 male chronic hepatitis C patients were willing to cooperate and offer their sperm for detection. In the patients, no minus but plus strand HCV RNA was detected in both supernatant of sperm and spermatid. HCV RNA was not detected in the last washing solution for spermatid. The results suggest that: (1). Probably, only plus HCV RNA exists in plasma; (2). HCV exists and probably duplicates in PBMC; (3). HCV exists in sperm. The possibility of transmission of hepatitis C by sexual intercourse is really existent. But, HCV probably don't duplicate in spermatid.