RESUMEN
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 = ï¼0.44, 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 (ß = ï¼0.25, P = 0.008) and DFI (ß = 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.
