Effect and Mechanisms of Reproductive Tract Infection on Oxidative Stress Parameters, Sperm Dna Fragmentation, and Semen Quality in Infertile Males

Abstract

Recent years have seen a rise incidence of male infertility, and mostly caused by the decline of sperm quality. The ratio of infertile males to infertile females has escalated from 3:7 in 2013 to today’s 5:5, which turning male infertility into the research focus of reproductive medicine. This study aimed to clarify the effect of reproductive tract infection by ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and chlamydia trachomatis (CT) on the DNA integrity and routine semen parameters of infertile males. A retrospective study was performed. A total of 259 infertile males who were treated at the Andrological Laboratory Examination and Reproductive Medicine Center in our hospital were analyzed. qRT-PCR was used to examine the infection status of CT and UU. According to the eligibility criteria, we evaluated the semen parameters and biochemical data of 253 men. Based on the results of PCR, the subjects were divided into four groups: group I (CT positive, 63 cases), group II (UU positive, 60 cases), group III (CT positive and UU positive, 62 cases), and group IV (no infection, 68 cases). DNA fragmentation index (DFI), sperm count, vitality and morphology, elastinase level, seminal plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed. Compared to group IV, three groups (group I, group II and group III) showed difference in semen volume, proportion of sperm with normal morphology, sperm motility, progressive motility, and vitality (P<0.05). Compared to group IV, group II and group III showed difference in DFI (P<0.05). Compared to group IV, group II and group III showed difference in elastase level (P<0.05). VCL, VSL, VAP, WOB,ROS,TM, HDS showed differences between groups of abnormal/normal WBC (*P<0.01) UU infection significantly increased the level of seminal leukocytes only in group II, but not in the other three groups, indicating that UU is an factor to increase the level of seminal leukocytes. Compared with the normal leukocyte group, there were significant differences in total motility, forward motility and normal sperm ratio between the two groups. The proportion of sperm with abnormal morphology (mostly in the head) showed obvious difference between groups of high and normal seminal leukocytic level. At the same time, in this study, SCGE and SCD verified that leukocytes could damage sperm DNA by increasing ROS, which ultimately affects male fertility.

Effects of leukocyte elastase in semen on sperm quality

“…[5] At present, conclusions about the effect of LE in semen on sperm quality are less consistent. Most studies suggest that the increase of LE in semen can seriously affect sperm quality, [6,7] but there are also studies showing that it has a limited effect on sperm quality. [8,9] Some studies suggest that LE can be used as a marker for “occult” infection of the reproductive system, while others suggest that it has no clinical significance for the etiological analysis of male infertility.…”

Necrozoospermia: The tree that hides the forest

“…The pathogens most frequently involved in necrozoospermia are Escherichia coli , Chlamydiae trachomatis , Candida albicans and Mycoplasma hominis 46,49 . Some of them display a specific deleterious effect on sperm vitality.…”