Role of Infection and Leukocytes in Male Infertility.

Male infertility is considered as a multifactorial complex reproductive illness, and male urogenital infection and inflammation are crucial etiologies contributing up to 35% of all cases. Mostly triggered by sexually transmitted diseases and uropathogens, chronic manifestation of such infection may cause irreversible infertility in the male. Male urogenital infection involves bacterial, viral, protozoal, and fungal infections many of which remain asymptomatic most of the time and are passed to the sexual partner leading to fertilization failure, pregnancy loss, and even development of illness in the offspring. The abundance of leukocytes in semen can be used as an indicator of urogenital infection. Its contribution in male infertility can be as high as 30% and the clinical condition is referred to as leukocytospermia. Seminal bacterial load together with increased leukocytes contribute to the impairment of male fertility parameters such as, sperm motility, DNA integrity, acrosome reaction, and damage sperm molecular structure. Pathophysiology of bacteriospermia-induced impairment of male infertility is probably mediated by the involvement of bacterial pathogens in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway resulting in sperm death, whereas that of seminal leukocytes operates through excessive generation of ROS. Although the application of antibiotics forms the frontline therapeutic approach, the growing resistance to antibiotics poses a concern in the management of microbes-induced male urogenital infection. Complementary and alternative medicine may offer additional management options in combating such infections. On the other hand, both broad spectrum antibiotics and antioxidant therapy have showed promising results in the management of infertile men with leukocytospermia. Use of herbal medicine may also play a promising role in the management of such patients. However, recent molecular biology techniques have noted the association of elevated levels of IL-8 with both the Chlamydial infection of the male urogenital tract as well as the clinical condition of leukocytospermia. On the basis of such common pathogenesis, further research involving advanced molecular techniques may pave the way towards the development of better diagnostic tools in the clinical management of male urogenital infection and leukocytospermia.

Diluente Tris suplementado com óleo de Mauritia flexuoxa sobre a qualidade do sêmen caprino após a criopreservação / Tris diluent supplemented with Mauritia flexuoxa oil on the quality of goat semen after cryopreservation

Objetivou-se verificar os efeitos, nos parâmetros espermáticos, na integridade mitocondrial, acrossomal e de membrana em células espermáticas, desencadeados pelo uso do Tris (Tris hidroximetil aminometano) suplementado com óleo de Mauritia flexuoxacomo diluente para criopreservação de sêmen caprino. Quatro caprinos clinicamente saudáveis foram utilizados. Os animais eram alimentados diariamente com volumoso (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.), concentrado (ração peletizada com teor de 20% proteína, 300 g/animal/dia) e sal mineral específico para Caprinos (Caprinofós®), à vontade. Dois ensaios foram realizados: I ­ Teste de toxicidade; II ­ Criopreservação do sêmen com concentrações ideais. No teste de toxicidade as concentrações avaliadas foram: 5%, 10%, 15% e 20% de diluente a base de óleo de Mauritia flexuoxa. Após o teste de toxicidade, foi escolhido a concentraçãoque apresentou o melhor resultado (5%). Logo após, foram realizadas mais 32 coletas, que foram diluídas em Tris-gema-glicerol (grupo controle) ou diluente contendo óleo vegetal (Mauritia flexuoxa). As amostras foram criopreservadas com auxílio do aparelho Tk3000®. Após o período mínimo de uma semana as palhetas foram descongeladas em banho-maria a 37 °C por 30 segundos, acondicionadas em microtubos de centrifugação e homogeneizadas para a análise imediata de motilidade, vigor espermático e morfologia. Em seguida, por meio de sondas fluorescentes foram avaliadas a integridade de acrossomo, membrana plasmática (Diacetato de Carboxifluresceína e Iodeto de Propídeo) e função mitocondrial sob microscopia de epifluorescência. Quanto a motilidade e vigor, integridade mitocondrial e acrossomal, o grupo buriti foi inferior ao grupo controle. O Tris suplementado com óleo de Mauritia flexuoxa na concentração de 5% não influenciou significativamente a qualidade espermática, porém, observou-se morfologia e integridade de membrana favoráveis. Dessa forma, sendo uma alternativa para substituição de diluentes a base de produtos de origem animal.

The objective was to verify the effects, sperm parameters, mitochondrial, acrosomal and membrane integrity in sperm cells, triggered by the use of Tris (Tris hydroxymethyl aminomethane) supplemented with Mauritia flexuoxa oil as a diluent for cryopreservation of goat semen. Four goats clinically healthy were used. The animals were fed daily with bulky (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.), concentrate (pelleted feed with 20% protein content, 300 g / animal / day) and mineral salt Specific for Goats (Caprinofós®), ad libitum. Two tests were carried out: I - Toxicity test; II - Semen cryopreservation with ideal concentrations. In the toxicity test as selected were: 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of Mauritia flexuoxa oil-based diluent. After the toxicity test, the concentration that showed the best result (5%) was chosen. Soon after, a further 32 samples were obtained, which were diluted in Tris-glycerol (control group) or diluent containing vegetable oil (Mauritia flexuoxa). The samples were cryopreserved using the Tk3000® machine. After a minimum of one week, the samples were thawed in a 37 ° C water bath for 30 seconds, packed in centrifugation microtubes and homogenized for immediate analysis of motility, sperm vigor and morphology. Then, by means of fluorescent probes, the integrity of the acrosome, plasma membrane (Carboxyflurescein diacetate and Propidium Iodide) and mitochondrial function under epifluorescence microscopy were evaluated. As for motility and vigor, mitochondrial and acrosomal integrity, the buriti group was inferior to the control group. Tris supplemented with Mauritia flexuoxa oil at a concentration of 5% did not significantly influence sperm quality, however, favorable motility, morphology and membrane integrity were observed. Thus, being an alternative to replace diluents based on products of animal origin.

Antimicrobial capabilities of non-spermicidal concentrations of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oils on the liquid phase of refrigerated swine seminal doses.

Antimicrobial resistance is increasing within the porcine industry with consequential high impact on human health, leading to a need for new antimicrobials. Lately, the scientific community has turned its interest towards natural compounds, and different essential oils have been tested on spermatozoa for preliminary assessment of toxicity before considering them as good substitutes for standard antibiotics. The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential antimicrobial effect of Melaleuca alternifolia and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils, already evaluated for toxicity, on swine artificial insemination doses deprived of spermatozoa and stored at 16 °C for 5 days. This was accomplished by setting up an in vitro model with a standardized quantity of E. coli. Essential oils, previously chemo-characterized by means of gas chromatography, were tested at 0.2 and 0.4 mg/ml. Analyses, performed at 24 and 120 h, included optical density evaluation, bacterial DNA quantification by qPCR, and colony count. The results demonstrate that both Melaleuca alternifolia and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils, at a concentration of 0.4 mg/ml, are capable of delivering similar effects to ampicillin, used as control, on the experimental samples. At the lower concentration, M. alternifolia essential oil seemed more effective when compared to R. officinalis. Overall, these findings strengthen the hypothesis of the potential use of phyto-complexes as antimicrobial agents for reproductive biotechnologies.

In vitro antibacterial and cytogenotoxicological properties of the aqueous extract of Cymbopogoncitratus Stapf (DC) leaf.

BACKGROUND: Microbial infection of the genital tract or semen is one of the leading causes of male infertility. Consequently, there is a need to seek alternative products from natural sources. OBJECTIVES: The antibacterial, phytochemical and cytogenotoxicological assessments of the aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus leaf were evaluated. METHODS: The antibacterial potential of the extract was done via agar-well diffusion and microdilution techniques. The phytochemical analysis was done via standard protocols.The cytogenotoxicity of the extract were analyzed using the Allium cepa assay. RESULTS: All test organisms were found to be sensitive to the extract except Pseudomonas. aeruginosa where no measurable zone of inhibition could be ascertained at all concentrations assessed.The highest mean inhibition diameter of 21.33±1.20mm against S. sapophyticus was recorded and a concentration-dependent susceptibility noticed. The phytochemical results revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoid, glycoside, steroids, terpenoid and alkaloids. The Alliumcepa root showed reduced mitotic indices following aconcentration-dependent increase in the extract.It can be said that the aqueous extract of C. citratus had inhibitory activities against the tested pathogenic organisms with relative anti-tumour potential. CONCLUSION: This study indicated, C. citratus could be a potential source for antibacterial compounds for the possible treatment of male reproductive related infections.

Differentially Enhancing Effects of Long-term Treatment with Serrazyme, Boswellia and Pine on Seminal Bacterial Detection in Patients with Chronic Bacterial or Inflammatory Prostatitis, Probably Related to Several Degrees of Bacterial Adherence.

BACKGROUND: Prostatitis is a recurrent urinary infection in males and is often difficult to cure. The aim of the study was to examine whether anti-inflammatory effects of enhanced drainage of prostatic secretions, obtained through two months treatment with a proteolytic enzyme mucoactive (PEM) compound (Serrazyme and other constituents), influenced qualitative or quantitative expressions of bacterial growth in seminal cultures. METHOD: 450 patients with prostatitis syndromes were randomized either to PEM therapy (intervention group) or to no treatment group. All patients were followed at the end of a 2-month PEM continuous treatment period (T2) and further two months after withdrawal (T4). RESULTS: After treatment, 15 out of 107 (14.1%) patients with Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis (CBP) showed negative seminal cultures, while in patients with cat NIH-IIIA prostatitis seminal cultures became positive in 33.3% cases with low bacteriospermia. After two months from withdrawal, although among CBP patients the total number of isolates and colony forming units (CFU) counts showed not significant changes compared to matched-values observed at T2, microbial parameters varied significantly among inflammatory prostatitis patients. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that 2 months of treatment with PEM, decreasing bacterial adherence and inflammatory prostatitis, reveals a subgroup of apparent inflammation associated with infection that microbial biofilms likely mask in inflammatory prostatitis patients.

Influence of Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas fluorescens on motility, viability and morphometry of cryostored silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus) sperm.

This objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of A. hydrophila subsp. hydrophila and P. fluorescens on sperm motility, sperm viability and sperm morphometry of cryopreserved silver barb (Barbodes gonionotus) semen and survival of tested bacteria after cryostorage. Semen was diluted in a calcium-free Hank's balanced salt solution (Ca-F HBSS) supplemented with or without 0.25% penicillin-streptomycin (PS) after which A. hydrophila subsp. hydrophila or P. fluorescens was immediately added into extended semen prior to freezing. Extended semen and cryostored semen kept for 20 min, 24 h, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d were assessed for sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm morphometry, survival of challenged bacteria and the relationship between bacteria and sperm. Bacterial-exposed semen with or without 0.25% PS supplementation showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in sperm motility and viability during a cryostorage of 28 d, compared to semen without bacterial supplementation (control groups). Addition of A. hydrophila subsp. hydrophila and P. fluorescens resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) alteration of sperm morphometry of cryopreserved semen, especially flagellum width. The two pathogens were detected at a level of 10(5) CFU ml(-1) in cryostored semen with or without antibiotic supplementation. There were significant correlations among bacterial number, percentage of sperm motility and viability and flagellum width. In conclusion, the presence of A. hydrophila subsp. hydrophila and P. fluorescens had a deleterious effect on cryopreserved silver barb sperm based on a reduction in sperm motility and viability and alteration of sperm morphometry, especially flagellum width.

Eradication of Chlamydia trachomatis parallels symptom regression in chronic bacterial prostatitis patients treated with a fluoroquinolone-macrolide combination.

To investigate the association between eradication of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and symptom regression in chronic prostatitis, 55 symptomatic patients were subjected to segmented tests to localise CT in first voided urine (VB1), prostatic secretions (EPS), post-massage voided (VB3) or semen specimens. Patients were divided in three treatment groups: the 'urethral involvement' group ('U': VB1 positive, EPS/VB3/Semen negative) was treated with 500 mg day(-1) azithromycin for 3 days. The 'prostatitis' group ('P': VB1 negative, EPS/VB3/semen positive) with 4-week levofloxacin-azithromycin combination. A third group, 'U+P' (VB1, EPS/VB3/semen positive) received both treatments in sequence. In P patients, eradication of CT was paralleled by marked, sustained symptom improvement and by significant decrease of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Compared with U patients, undergoing rapid regression of symptoms related to painful micturition after short-term azithromycin, U+P patients showed symptom and pathogen persistence in VB3/EPS/semen and required additional treatment with 4-week levofloxacin-azithromycin to achieve pathogen eradication, symptom regression, and decrease of PSA. Our results support a causative role of CT in chronic bacterial prostatitis. In the presence of a positive urethral localisation of the pathogen, thorough microbiological investigation together with focused symptom analysis may reveal an underlying chlamydial prostatitis and direct effective therapy with appropriate antibacterial agents.

Effect of extender supplementation with various antimicrobial agents on viability of Brucella ovis and Actinobacillus seminis in cryopreserved ovine semen.

The objective was to determine the effectiveness of various antimicrobial agents added to semen extender for inactivation of B. ovis or A. seminis in ovine semen after cryopreservation. In Experiment 1, 20 ejaculates from a crossbred ram infected with B. ovis were cryopreserved in Tris-based extenders with various antimicrobial agents: (I) control without antibiotics, (II) with penicillin and streptomycin (1000 IU/mL and 1 mg/mL, respectively), (III) lincomycin (0.15 mg/mL), (IV) sulphadiazine (0.60 mg/mL), and (V) gentamicin sulphate (0.25 mg/mL). Semen was stored in 0.25 mL straws at a final concentration of 150 × 10(6) spermatozoa/mL. After thawing (37 °C for 30 s), sperm total motility (TM), sperm morphology, integrity of sperm membranes, and bacterial growth were assessed. In Experiment 2, six B. ovis isolates were separately inoculated into aliquots of a fresh ejaculate from a B. ovis-free ram. Mock inoculated semen was processed for cryopreservation using the five extenders described above, and bacteriologically evaluated after thawing. In Experiment 3, sensitivity of A. seminis to the same antimicrobial agents was evaluated by inoculating an ejaculate from an A. seminis and B. ovis-free ram. There were no significant differences among treatments in post-thawing sperm parameters. B. ovis was isolated from 100% (20/20), 0% (0/20), 95% (19/20), 100% (20/20), and 5% (1/20) of semen samples diluted in tris-based extender of untreated (I) and treated semen samples with antimicrobial agents II, III, IV, and V, respectively. Frequencies of isolation from samples treated with antimicrobial agent II and V were significantly lower than untreated ones (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the profile of antimicrobial resistance of different B. ovis isolates. A. seminis had a similar sensitivity to the antimicrobial agents. We concluded that addition of a combination of penicillin and streptomycin or gentamicin alone to ram semen cryo-extenders inactivated B. ovis and A. seminis.

Efficacy of iron chelators on Campylobacter concentrations in turkey semen.

Campylobacter is a leading bacterial cause of human foodborne infections in the United States. Recent studies suggest that the organism is highly prevalent in poultry semen and may contribute to vertical transmission between the breeder hen and offspring. Because Campylobacter requires iron for its growth and survival, the objective of this study was to determine if the addition of natural and synthetic chelators such as ovotransferrin, desferrioxaime, EDTA, or 2,2'-dipyridyl could reduce or eliminate Campylobacter in turkey semen. In a preliminary study without semen, a commercial poultry semen extender was supplemented with various concentrations of ovotransferrin, desferrioxaime, EDTA, or 2,2'-dipyridyl and inoculated with an average of 10(8) cfu/mL of a wild-type Campylobacter coli turkey semen isolate. At 6 and 24 h of storage at 4 degrees C, a sample was taken from each treatment group and enumerated for Campylobacter. In all 3 trials, Campylobacter was undetectable (< 10(2)) in the commercial poultry semen extender supplemented with 20 mg/mL of 2,2'-dipyridyl. There were no differences observed in Campylobacter concentrations in the commercial poultry semen extender supplemented with ovotransferrin, desferrioxaime, or EDTA compared with unsupplemented controls. In a follow-up study, pooled semen samples were randomly collected from toms, diluted with a commercial poultry semen extender supplemented with 5, 10, or 20 mg/mL of 2,2'-dipyridyl and inoculated with an average of 10(8) cfu/mL of a wild-type C. coli turkey semen isolate. At 6 and 24 h of storage at 4 degrees C, samples were taken from each treatment group, enumerated for Campylobacter, and evaluated for sperm viability. In all 3 trials, supplementing the commercial poultry semen extender with 20 mg/mL of 2,2'-dipyryidyl significantly reduced (3 to 4 logs) Campylobacter concentrations when compared with the positive controls. Sperm viability was also reduced with this treatment, and, therefore, the use of 2,2'-dipyridyl may not be a practical treatment for reducing Campylobacter in poultry semen.

Effects of an extract of Serenoa repens on dogs with hyperplasia of the prostate gland.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of an extract of Serenoa repens on dogs with prostatic hyperplasia. ANIMALS: 20 mature male dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia. PROCEDURE: Dogs were assigned to 3 comparable groups on the basis of prostatic volume per kg of body weight and degree of prostatic hyperplasia determined histologically. Dogs in 2 groups were treated for 91 days (8 received 500 mg, PO, q 8 h [1,500 mg/d], and 6 received 100 mg, PO, q 8 h [300 mg/d]). The control group of 6 dogs did not receive medication. Effects of treatment on prostatic volume, prostatic weight, prostatic histologic characteristics, radiographic and ultrasonographic assessment of prostatic size, results of CBC, serum biochemical analyses, and urinalysis, serum testosterone concentration, and semen characteristics were determined. At the termination of the study, all dogs were euthanatized, and necropsies were performed. Investigators conducting tests and interpreting results were not aware of treatment group of each dog. RESULTS: Treatment did not affect prostatic weight, prostatic volume, or prostatic histologic scores, libido, semen characteristics, radiographs of the caudal portion of the abdomen, prostatic ultrasonographs, or serum testosterone concentrations. Results of CBC, serum biochemical analyses or urinalysis, and body weights did not change during treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Treatment with an extract of S repens for 91 days did not significantly affect the prostate gland of dogs. Adverse effects were not evident. Although products containing extracts of S repens are widely advertised for men with prostatic hyperplasia, beneficial or harmful effects of this plant extract were not found in dogs with prostatic hyperplasia.

Hydrogels containing monocaprin have potent microbicidal activities against sexually transmitted viruses and bacteria in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the in vitro microbicidal and cytocidal potency of monocaprin dissolved in pharmaceutical hydrogel formulations and to evaluate their potential use as vaginal microbicides against sexually transmitted pathogens such as herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. METHODS: Gel formulations were mixed with equal volumes of virus/bacteria suspensions in culture medium and incubated for 1 and 5 minutes. The reduction in virus/bacteria titre was used as a measure of microbicidal activity. Similarly, gels were mixed with human semen to study their effect on leucocytes. The toxicity of the gels was tested in rabbits by the standard vaginal irritation test. RESULTS: Gels containing 20 mM of monocaprin caused a greater than 100,000-fold inactivation of HSV-2 and Neisseria in 1 minute and of Chlamydia in 5 minutes. Similarly, the gels caused a greater than 10,000-fold inactivation of HIV-1 in semen in 1 minute. They caused more than a 10,000-fold reduction in the number of viable leucocytes in semen in 1 minute. No toxic effect on the vaginal mucosa of rabbits was observed after daily exposure for 10 days. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrogels containing monocaprin are potent inactivators of sexually transmitted viruses and bacteria in vitro. This simple lipid seems to be a feasible choice as a mucosal microbicide for prevention of sexually transmitted infections. It is a natural compound found in certain foodstuffs such as milk and is therefore unlikely to cause harmful side effects in the concentrations used.

Improvement of semen quality in infected asymptomatic infertile male after bacteriological cure

Bacteriological etiology was investigated in 29 infected asymptomatic infertile males. The localization of the infection and the effect of a long term antibiotic therapy on semen parameters were evaluated. The most frequent etiological agent isolated was Enterococcus faecalis. Positive bacteriological culture was obtained in prostatic fluid in 16 patients and in semen in 13. Bacteriological cure was achieved in 24 cases and it was associated with improved seminal parameters: sperm concentration, motility, viability and total motile sperm per ejaculate. In 5 patients without bacteriological cure there was no change in semen analysis after antibiotic therapy. In 45 percent of the infected patients there were less than 0.5 x 10(6)/ml seminal polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In view of these findings granulocyte concentration seems to be a poor marker to predict infection.

Improvement of semen quality in infected asymptomatic infertile male after bacteriological cure

Bacteriological etiology was investigated in 29 infected asymptomatic infertile males. The localization of the infection and the effect of a long term antibiotic therapy on semen parameters were evaluated. The most frequent etiological agent isolated was Enterococcus faecalis. Positive bacteriological culture was obtained in prostatic fluid in 16 patients and in semen in 13. Bacteriological cure was achieved in 24 cases and it was associated with improved seminal parameters: sperm concentration, motility, viability and total motile sperm per ejaculate. In 5 patients without bacteriological cure there was no change in semen analysis after antibiotic therapy. In 45 percent of the infected patients there were less than 0.5 x 10(6)/ml seminal polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In view of these findings granulocyte concentration seems to be a poor marker to predict infection. (AU)

[The dynamics of the species composition and antilysozymal activity of ejaculate microflora under the action of local hyperthermia]. / Dinamika vidovogo sostava i antilizotsimnoi aktivnosti mikroflory éiakuliata pod vozdeistviem lokal'noi gipertermii.

Changes in the antilysozyme activity of bacteria under the action of high temperature and short-wave hyperthermia have been studied. The regulating influence of these factors on the species composition and persistence characteristics of the microflora of ejaculate obtained from sterile patients has been demonstrated. A method for the treatment of male sterility is proposed.

[Diagnostic value of Stamey's test in chronic prostatitis]. / Valeur diagnostique du test de Stamey dans les prostatites chroniques.

OBJECTIVES: Analysis and technical details of Staomey's fractionated urine cultures, the reference method for the evaluation and bacteriological diagnosis of chronic bacterial prostatitis, but the application of which has been rarely described in the literature. METHOD: Stamey's test is based on comparative analysis of urine samples representative of the urethra, bladder and prostatic secretions obtained by prostatic massage. This method allows the demonstration of bacteria in the urine or prostatic secretions in the presence of bacterial prostatitis, in contra with non-bacterial prostatitis and prostatodynia. The sampling conditions require a sufficiently full bladder and the samples must be collected according to rigorously sterile procedure. The first step of the examination must not be preceded by urethral swabbing and the urine samples must have a well defined volume. Prostatic secretions are obtained by a prolonged massage of each lobe of the prostate gland. RESULTS: Bacterial prostatitis is confirmed by the presence of bacteria in the prostatic secretions and U3 in numbers largely exceeding the bacterial counts of the other samples. In the case of lower urinary tract infection, the test must be repeated after disinfection of the bladder urine. The pathogenic role of Gram positive bacteria is confirmed by isolation of a high bacterial count on several occasions. The pathogenic role of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydiae trachomatis is more controversial, while the role of Trichomonas vaginalis is unlikely and fungal prostatitis is very rare. Semen culture is less reliable than Stamey's test in the diagnosis of prostatitis. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of chronic prostatitis is difficult due to the absence of typical clinical symptoms, specific ultrasonographic signs and the sometimes difficult interpretation of the culture results. Stamey's test is a reference diagnostic examination provided it is performed according to a rigorous methodology.

The activity of candidate virucidal agents, low pH and genital secretions against HIV-1 in vitro.

The effect of low pH, normally present in the female genital tract, on HIV viability was examined. HIV is more acid stable than previously reported with no substantial reduction in infectivity occurring until pH levels are reduced below 4.5. The virucidal activity of 3 topical spermicides and chlorhexidine was assessed in vitro using previously established and newly modified assay systems. None of the agents tested had a selectivity index (SI) greater than 5.2. Semen and cervical secretions were assessed for their ability to inhibit HIV-1. While no virucidal effect was found in the latter, seminal fluid was found to have significant activity against HIV-1 and a SI of approximately 50.