Borzy M S, Connell R S, Kiessling A A
Department of Pediatrics, Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children, Portland, Oregon.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (1988). 1988;1(5):419-24.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was detected by assay of reverse transcriptase activity in a "virus pellet" obtained by differential sucrose density centrifugation of cell-free semen from three patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), one individual with AIDS-related complex (ARC), and in an asymptomatic homosexual male. Reverse transcriptase assays indicated virus concentrations in the range of 10(8) particles/ml of semen, an accumulation substantiated by electron microscopic visualization of cell-free virus. This is the first description of cell-free retrovirus in seminal fluid and at a greater concentration than reported for blood or other body fluids or tissues. These results suggest that the male reproductive tract of humans may be a reservoir of HIV expression, and raises the possibility that the cells lining the epididymal lumen could be chronically infected with HIV. These are important considerations in formulating treatment and preventive strategies.
通过对来自三名获得性免疫缺陷综合征（艾滋病）患者、一名患艾滋病相关综合征（ARC）个体以及一名无症状同性恋男性的无细胞精液进行蔗糖密度梯度离心获得“病毒沉淀”，检测其中的逆转录酶活性，从而检测出人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）。逆转录酶检测表明精液中病毒浓度在10⁸颗粒/毫升范围内，通过对无细胞病毒的电子显微镜观察证实了病毒的聚集。这是首次对精液中无细胞逆转录病毒的描述，且其浓度高于血液或其他体液或组织中报道的浓度。这些结果表明人类男性生殖道可能是HIV表达的一个储存库，并增加了附睾管腔内衬细胞可能被HIV慢性感染的可能性。这些是制定治疗和预防策略时的重要考虑因素。
