Human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid in seminal plasma and sperm cells.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the possible presence and expression of human papillomavirus viruses (HPV) in human plasma and sperm cells.

DESIGN

Controlled clinical study.

SETTING

A major medical center affiliated with a medical college.

PATIENTS

Twenty-four randomly selected patients who attended Fertility Clinics at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

INTERVENTIONS

Specimens of semen were collected from volunteered patients

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The presence of HPV types 16 and 18 DNA and RNA sequences were examined by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 and E7 DNA and RNA sequences were found in two and zero seminal plasma specimens, respectively, and in six and two sperm cells specimens, respectively. Deoxyribonucleic acid and RNA sequences of HPV type 18 were found in eight and two seminal specimens and in 11 and 5 sperm cells specimens, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These results seem to suggest that HPV cannot only infect human sperm cells, certain HPV genes are expressed actively in infected sperm cells. The virus-infected sperm cells conceivably can behave as vectors or carriers for the transmission of HPV, to sexual partner during sexual contact, to fetuses through fertilized eggs, or both.