The physiological aerobic bacterial flora of the low male genital tract was determined. This prospective study was performed on 600 semen specimens collected from 543 asymptomatic males consulting for infertility. Semen cultures were sterile in 28.8%, with a polymicrobial flora and/or absence or low titres of Ureaplasma urealyticum in 49.3%, and with one or two aerobic and facultative bacteria > or =1 x 10(3) CFU ml(-1) and/or U. urealyticum with titres > or =10(4) CCU ml(-1) (colour changing units) in 21.8%. In standard aerobic cultures, Gardnerella vaginalis was the most commonly isolated species (26.1%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (15.7%) and Streptococcus anginosus (14.2%). Ureaplasma urealyticum was absent in 84.5% of semen samples, but when recovered, high (> or =10(4) CCU ml(-1)) and low titres (< or =10(3) CCU ml(-1)) were counted in 7.2% and 8.3% respectively. Of 48 patients, the follow-up of semen cultures showed marked variations in time. This study shows that (i) there was no relationship between the bacterial flora and the leucocytospermia; (ii) low titres of U. urealyticum in semen were not associated with a disturbance of the ecosystem; (iii) the critical threshold for U. urealyticum should be raised to > or =10(4) CFU ml(-1) and (iv) a positive semen culture should be repeated before any treatment.

Urines of 11 patients with three different types of mucolipidosis characterized by a total or partial sialidase deficiency, were studied. In all cases, we found an important accumulation of sialyl‐oligosaccharides. The structure of 9 of them has been determined: α‐AcNeu‐(2→3)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)‐β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→6)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)‐β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→6)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)[α‐Man‐(1→6)]β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→3)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)[β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→6)]β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→6)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)[β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→6)]β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→6)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)[α‐AcNeu‐(2→3)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→4)]α‐Man‐(1→3)‐β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→3)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)[α‐AcNeu‐(2→3)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→6)]β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→6)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)[α‐AcNeu‐(2→3)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→6)]β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc, α‐AcNeu‐(2→6)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→3)[α‐AcNeu‐(2→6)‐β‐Gal‐(1→4)‐β‐GlcNAc‐(1→2)‐α‐Man‐(1→6)]β‐Man‐(1→4)‐GlcNAc. All these compounds are products of incomplete catabolism of glycoproteins and result from the action of a new type of β‐endo‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase able to act on sialylated glycoproteins or glycopeptides. The term sialidosis is proposed for these three types of oligosaccharidosis.

The rate of ICSI success may be influenced by the type of flagellar abnormality. ICSI provides a suitable solution for patients with sperm flagellar defects but raises the question of the consequences of a specific (and primary flagellar) abnormality on oocyte fertilization, on embryo and fetal development as well as on live birth.

BackgroundThe value of varicocele repair and the latter's impact on semen parameters are still subject to debate.MethodsWe analyse changes over time in initially abnormal sperm parameters and serum concentrations of testosterone, FSH and inhibin B after embolization treatment of males with high-grade varicocele. From 2007 to 2012, we recruited 47 male infertile patients with clinically visible left varicocele in the resting patient and at least one abnormal semen parameter. Sperm parameters and serum levels of total testosterone, FSH and inhibin B were measured prior to retrograde embolization (M0) and then 3 (M3) and 6 (M6) months afterwards.ResultsAt M0, the median sperm concentration was 5.78 [0.84-37.70] × 106/ejaculate. The mean ± SD sperm progressive motility, vitality and percentage of normal sperm were respectively, 21.83 ± 16.48%, 61.88 ± 15.98% and 12.88 ± 7.15%. The corresponding values at M3 were significantly higher (38.75 [3.96-95] × 106/ejaculate, 29.32 ± 14.21%, 69.14 ± 14.86% and 19.03 ± 11.02%, respectively). The mean percentage of spermatozoa with a thin head was significantly lower at M6 (6.35 ± 5.29%) than at M0 (14.03 ± 13.09%). The mean serum testosterone, FSH and inhibin B levels did not change significantly over time.ConclusionsEmbolization treatment in men with clinically visible left varicocele, abnormal sperm parameters and documented infertility is associated with a significant improvement in semen parameters including sperm head morphology.

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