Membrane stability and mitochondrial activity of human-ejaculated spermatozoa during in vitro experimental infection with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Bacteroides ureolyticus.

The aim of the study was to examine an in vitro effect of the three bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Bacteroides ureolyticus) on ejaculated spermatozoa with reference to sperm membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity. The study was carried out on swim-up-separated spermatozoa from 12 normozoospermic volunteers. Sperm plasma membrane stability was evaluated by the LIVE/DEAD Sperm Viability Kit and by the merocyanine 540 test. Mitochondrial activity was evaluated using the JC-1 test as well as the NADH-dependent NBT assay. The percentage of dead cells was significantly higher in spermatozoa treated with B. ureolyticus as compared to that of control spermatozoa (P < 0.01). All the bacterial strains applied affected sperm plasma membrane architecture measured by M540 test (P < 0.01). Moreover, the presence of E. coli or B. ureolyticus was connected with significant decrease in both the number of cells with high mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm) and the cells with normal oxidoreductive function of mitochondria (P < 0.05 as compared to untreated cells). To conclude, the contact of bacteria with ejaculated spermatozoa can be a reason for severe injury of sperm membrane stability and mitochondrial activity with potential consequences for male fertility.

[Microbiological flora cultured from peritoneal fluid of women in reproductive age]. / Flora mikrobiologiczna izolowana z plynu otrzewnowego u kobiet w wieku rozrodczym.

The aim of the study was to assess the presence of the microbes in peritoneal fluid of women in reproductive age. An investigation was performed on the group of 144 women operated laparoscopically in Division of Reproduction. The bacteria were cultured from 77 fluids (53.5%). The most common bacteria were: Staphylococcus epidermidis (34.1%) and Propionibacterium acnes (19.3%). In our group of patients 88 strains of bacteria were isolated. Sensitivity to antibiotics differed in many points. This situation does not allow to prepare any universal scheme of antibiotic therapy. We stress the necessity of assessing the type of bacteria and antibiotic resistance before the treatment get started. It seems to be especially important in pelvic pain syndrome and in pelvic inflammatory disease when operative procedure is necessary for bacteria isolation.

[Bacterial flora of genital organs in women treated for infertility]. / Flora bakteryjna narzadów plciowych kobiet leczonych z powodu nieplodnosci.

Bacterial flora in 72 women suffering from infertility was assessed. The medium age of women was 28.9 years (22-37) and the duration of infertility-5.5 years (2-15). Cultures were taken during laparoscopy (65) or microsurgery (7) from vagina, cervical canal and the fallopian tubes. Specific cultures for anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, N. gonorrhoeae, C. Trachomatis and Mycoplasma hominis were taken. In the specimens from fallopian tubes 21 species of bacteria were cultured. The most often coagulase-negative staphylococci (54.3%) as well as aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacilli were found (23.9%). In conclusion we think that the proper preparation of patients in the preoperative period decreases significantly the number of isolated species of bacteria. Also the profile of cultured species differs from that found in women from western populations, especially from United States and Sweden.

[The role of lower genital tract infection in PROM]. / Udzial zakazen pochwy i szyjki macicy u ciezarnych kobiet w etiologii przedwczesnego pekniecia blon plodowych (PROM).

The authors conducted a prospective study of the role of lower genital tract infection in PTL and PROM in high risk obstetric population with special interest in pathogens colonizing the maternal tract. A total amount of 62 women within 28 to 37 weeks of gestation were enrolled and interviewed. Subjects were cultured for Gardnerella vaginalis, group B streptococcus, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Bacterioides fragilis, M. Hominis, U. Urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Candida galabrata and they were followed to delivery. Preterm rupture of membranes occurred in 30.6% of these pregnancies.

[Usefulness of counting leukocytes and round cells in determination of bacterial infection of semen in infertile men]. / Przydatnosc oznaczania leukocytów i komórek okraglych w okresleniu zakazenia bakteryjnego nasienia nieplodnych mezczyzn.

The authors measured efficiency of the determination of bacterial infection from the semen of infertile men. They compared the correlation of counts of bacteria with white blood cells (peroxidase method) and round cells in ejaculate. Seminal white blood cells counts (more than 1 x 10(5)/ml) correlated well with bacteriospermia (more than 1000 cells/ml), R = 0.4741, p = 0.0007. Determination of round cells in semen has no clinical value in prediction of seminal infection, R = 0.0153, p = 0.6022.