Acute Toxoplasma gondii infection affects the reproductive function of male mice / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of acute Toxoplasma gondii infection on the reproductive function of male mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six adult male mice were randomized into an infection and a control group of equal number. Acute Toxoplasma gondii infection was induced in the testes of the former, while abdominal injection of normal saline given to the latter. Cell imprints and pathological sections were obtained to observe the pathological changes and Toxoplasma gondii invasion in the spermatogenic cells and to compare the testicular LDH-X, sperm concentration and motility and the number of deformed spermatozoa between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The testicular LDH-X, sperm concentration and motility and the number of deformed spermatozoa were 53.19 +/- 18.04, (15.01 +/- 2.42) x 10(6)/ ml, (8.26 +/- 2.57) % and (17.69 +/- 11.91) % in the infection group, as compared with 68.71 +/- 17.79, (23.87 +/- 6.66) x 10(6)/ ml, (13.21 +/- 2.82) % and (11.30 +/- 6.60) % in the control, with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acute Toxoplasma gondii infection affects the reproductive function of male mice.</p>