[Sperm DNA damage is not related to seminal leukocyte subsets in infertile males with asymptomatic genital tract infection].

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation of leukocyte subsets with sperm DNA damage in the semen of infertile men with asymptomatic genital tract infection (AGTI).

METHODS

This study included 111 infertile males with AGTI. After routine semen analysis, we determined the concentration of CD45+ leukocytes in the semen by immunocytochemistry, measured the concentrations of CD14+ cells of the mononuclear / macrophagic system and activated macrophages and HLA-DR+ cells in the semen by flow cytometry, and examined the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and the expression of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) by TUNEL assay. Then we analyzed the correlation of seminal leukocyte subsets with sperm DNA damage and routine semen parameters.

RESULTS

The concentration of CD45+ leukocytes was correlated significantly with those of CD14+ and HLA-DR+ cells in the semen (P <0.01), but not that of leukocyte subsets with routine semen parameters, sperm DFI, or the percentage of 8-OHdG-positive cells. The percentage of 8-OHdG-positive sperm was correlated positively with the sperm DFI (r = 0.48, P<0.01) but negatively with sperm concentration (r = －0.44, P <0.01). After adjusted for age, abstinence time and cigarette smoking, the percentage of 8-OHdG-positive sperm was correlated independently with sperm concentration (β = －0.25, P = 0.008) and DFI (β = 0.23, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Sperm DNA damage is associated with poor semen quality but not with seminal leukocyte subsets in infertile males with asymptomatic genital tract infection.