Acrosome reaction in Chlamydia-positive and negative patients

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis infections might have a detrimental effect on various sperm functions. Data concerning the effect of C. trachomatis on the capacitation activity of sperms are lacking. The study was undertaken to evaluate whether chlamydial infection influences acromsome reaction (AR). Three groups of men were investigated for ARs -Chlamydia negative (n = 46) and positive (n = 30) patients, and healthy men (n = 53) undergoing vasectomy. The fluorescence technique for the evaluation of AR was applied. The normal range for the induction of AR was assumed DeltaAR > 12.5% for this technique. Seminal plasma was examined for IgA antibodies against C. trachomatis. There was a significant difference in AR between healthy volunteers, Chlamydia-negative and Chlamydia-positive patients. DeltaARs were 15.8 +/- 1.6% in healthy volunteers versus 12.15 +/- 2.4% in Chlamydia-negative and 9.08 +/- 1.8% in Chlamydia-postive patients, respectively (P < 0.05). Significant elevated titres of C. trachomatis-specific IgA in seminal plasma showed a negative correlation with the AR of spermatozoa. AR seems to be a valuable marker, especially in couples with idiopathic infertility.

Prevalence of sexually transmissible pathogens in semen from asymptomatic male infertility patients with and without leukocytospermia

“…LCS was associated with decreased sperm count, % normal forms and fructose concentration, a measure of seminal vesicle function. Thus, the present study confirms and extends earlier reports that STIs and LCS are associated with poor semen quality (7,13,45,48,49,51,64,65,70,(77)(78)(79)(80)(81)(82).…”

“…CT DNA was associated with a significant decrease in neutral α-glucosidase concentration (and a trend towards lower total sperm and total motile sperm counts). Other studies have shown that men with CT in semen have reduced sperm concentration, motility, velocity, viability, morphology, acrosome reaction and citrate (77)(78)(79)(80). Spermatozoa incubated with elementary bodies of CT had decreased motility and increased cytotoxicity (81); these effects have been attributed to lipopolysaccharide (82).…”

Are sexually transmitted infections associated with male infertility? A systematic review and in-depth evaluation of the evidence and mechanisms of action of 11 pathogens

“… Study Design Patients/Specimen Main results Crosssectional [ 12 ] 293 infertile patients Semen Chlamydia, mycoplasma and ureaplasma strains detected in 13%, 8.9% and 14% of men; Sperm DNA integrity not disturbed in men with semen contaminated by at least one of the investigated bacteria. % of spermatozoa with defective DNA condensation not higher in +ve semen samples vs ve ones Crosssectional [ 48 ] CT ve (n = 46) and +ve (n = 30) patients, healthy men (n = 53) undergoing vasectomy. Semen No significant difference between CT +ve and ve patients in sperm count, progressive sperm motility, sperm morphology Casecontrol [ 49 ] 127 IM,188 FM.…”