Effects of leucocytospermia on semen parameters and outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Abstract

Leucocytes are present throughout the male reproductive tract but the clinical significance of leucocytic infiltration in the human ejaculate is controversial. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines leucocytospermia as the presence of peroxidase-positive leucocytes in concentrations of > or =1 x 10(6)/mL of semen. The goals of this study were to clarify the relationship between leucocytospermia and semen parameters including sperm concentration, progressive and total motility before and after semen preparation, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes, including fertilization, embryo development, embryo morphology, cleavage and pregnancy rates. We compared the semen parameters and ICSI outcome of 34 leucocytospermic and 36 non-leucocytospermic control couples who were undergoing ICSI because of male factor infertility including oligo and/or astheno and/or teratozoospermia. Semen parameters including progressive motility rate (1.5% vs. 3%) and sperm concentrations (12 vs. 29 million/mL) were significantly lower in the leucocytospermic group compared with the control group. Other semen parameters were not affected by the presence of leucocytes. ICSI outcome, including fertilization (82% vs. 87%) and embryo development rates (79% vs. 86%) were significantly lower in the leucocytospermic group compared with the control group although there were no statistical difference for embryo quality, embryo cleavage and pregnancy rates. These results indicate that some semen parameters and the outcome of ICSI were negatively affected by the presence of leucocytospermia.

Effect of leukocytospermia on fertilization and pregnancy rates of artificial reproductive technologies

“…With regard to the reported damage by leukocytospermia on spermatozoa, the results of this study are surprising and are in contrast to a report by Yilmaz et al (10), who compared 34 leukocytospermic semen samples with 36 nonleukocytospermic semen samples and subsequent ICSI outcomes. Fertilization rates from leukocytospermic samples were lower than those from nonleukocytospermic semen samples, whereas pregnancy rates were similar (30.0% and 30.6%, respectively).…”

“…Leukocytes produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are harmful to spermatozoa (ROS have been reported to damage sperm morphology and motility as well as DNA integrity; (2,3)), and recent reports indicate that leukocytospermia has a negative impact on semen quality as a result of ROS (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). This may include a negative impact on fertilization and pregnancy rates.…”

Relationship between sperm parameters and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome

“…Leukocytes are reported to have negative effects on fertilization rate (17) and this rate is significantly lower in leukocytospermic patients (18). Likewise, a negative association was observed between leukocytospermia and pregnancy in our study.…”

Les bactériospermies en AMP : comment réaliser et interpréter une spermoculture ? Qui traiter ? Pourquoi ? Comment ?

“…Les atteintes membranaires sont dues à une peroxydation des lipides de la membrane des spermatozoïdes qui provoquent un enroulement flagellaire conduisant à l'asthé nospermie [40]. Pour certains, la leucospermie s'accompagnerait non seulement d'une diminution de la mobilité mais aussi d'une diminution de la concentration spermatique [41].…”

“…La pré sence d'une leucospermie diminuerait significativement les taux de fé condation et les taux de clivage en ICSI [41] et en FIV [59], ainsi que les taux de grossesse en FIV et le dé veloppement embryonnaire jusqu'au stade blastocyste en ICSI [59]. Le traitement d'une bacté riospermie asymptomatique peut être indiqué pour é viter la transmission à la partenaire de bacté ries potentiellement dé lé tè res sur le processus d'implantation embryonnaire.…”