Effect of leucocytospermia on seminal parameters of human male infertile subjects

Abstract

Introduction: Leucocytospermia is recently recognized factor of male infertility. Leucocytes when exceeds the threshold of 1 x106/ml of semen contribute significantly to production of ROS ( reactive oxygen species) and thereby cause sperm damage leading to male infertility. Aims : To study the effect of leucocytospermia on seminal parameters. Methods: The study was conducted at the Reproductive Biology Unit in the Department. of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences Sevagram; Wardha. Routine semen analysis was done by SQA II CP (Sperm Quality Analyser) [Medical Electronic System Ltd. Israel]. The presence of leukocyte concentration in 140 semen samples were assessed by myeloperoxidase staining technique [ Endtz test] and samples were classified as leucocytospermic [≥ 1x106/ml] (L group) and nonleucocytospermic [<1x106/ml] (NL group). Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) Reduction Test was used to detect ROS generation in leucocytes and spermatozoa. Results: Out of 140 semen samples 20 samples were leukocytospermic and 120 were nonleukocytospermic. Mean count of percentage of NBT positive leukocyte was more in leukocytospermic group (16.20 ± 6.51) than nonleukocytospermic group (12.21 6.10) and was found to be statistically significant. In leukocytospermic group, we obtained significant negative correlation between percentage of NBT positive lekcocytes and sperm count (r = -0.49, p < 0.05), % sperm motility (r = -0.51, p < 0.05) and % morphologically normal spermatozoa (r = -0.45, p < 0.05) respectively. In nonleucocytospermic group, the coefficient of correlation between percentage of NBT positive leucocyte and sperm count (r = -0.16, p > 0.05), % sperm motility (r = -0.16, p > 0.05) & %morphologically normal spermatozoa (r = -0.14, p > 0.05) were not significant. Conclusion: Leukocytospermia adversely affect the seminogram parameters leading to male infertility.