Increase of large granular lymphocytes in human ejaculate containing antisperm antibodies

Using flow cytometry, we studied the expression of the CD16 antigen by lymphocytes present in human semen samples from three groups of patients: 60 fertile men attending for vasectomy, 60 sterile patients without antisperm antibodies (ASA) and 18 immunological sterile patients with ASA in their ejaculate. No significant difference was found in the concentration of leukocytes or subpopulations of these cells (monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes) between fertile, sterile without ASA and immunological sterile groups. However, we detected a predominance of macrophages/monocytes within the population of seminal leukocytes. No statistically significant difference was found in the absolute number of T and B lymphocytes between the three groups studied. However, a significant increase in the number of CD16+ lymphocytes was observed in the ejaculate of sterile patients with ASA as compared to the other groups. This finding might establish an important parameter in the follow-up and prognosis of patients with immunological sterility.