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Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T10:53:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-03-01 In species of Callinectes a sperm plug is formed in the seminal receptacle (SR) during the sperm transfer, which hinders the insemination by other males. In this study, we evaluated the morphology, histochemistry, and ultrastructure of the seminal receptacle of juvenile and adult females of Callinectes danae along the different stages of ovarian development. We described the histochemical changes that take place inside the SR, from the sperm plug formation until fertilization. We also quantified the amount of seminal fluid received by the females during copulation. C. danae has a dorsal-type SR, which is common in Portunidae. The sperm plug is formed by the orderly deposition of seminal fluid of the anterior and median vas deferens, which in turn influences the secretion of the posterior region and produces chemically distinct strata. The dissolution of the sperm plug inside the SR occurs in synchrony with the spermatophore dehiscence and ovarian development. A holocrine secretion from dense layer cells dissolves the sperm plug. These cells have electron-dense and electron-lucid vesicles. The plug is completely dissolved when the females are at the intermediary ovarian development. At this stage, the SR dense layer folds and forms the lateral chamber. The dorsal oviduct, continuous to the dense layer, moves to a ventral-lateral position opposed to the vagina. During ovulation, the oocytes of mature females pass through the oviduct and the fertilization occurs almost above the vagina. The male ejaculates all its seminal fluid in a single copulation, leading to a total sperm depletion. Therefore, the whole sperm plug is produced by the males, through the combined secretions from three vas deferens regions. We show, for the first time, that the secretions from the anterior vas deferens also participate in the sperm plug formation. The female dissolves the plug, which is a crucial morphological change of the SR during the processes of fertilization and egg release. In species of Callinectes there was a clear co-evolution between the male and female reproductive systems: the male invests all its reproductive potential to build the sperm plug, and the female, to dissolve it. Laboratório de Morfologia de Invertebrados (IML) Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária and CAUNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Campus Do Litoral Paulista, Praça Infante Don Henrique S/N Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Laboratório de Morfologia de Invertebrados (IML) Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária and CAUNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Campus Do Litoral Paulista, Praça Infante Don Henrique S/N Instituto de Biociências de Rio Claro Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Background.There are not enough publications devoted to the study of erythropoietin in human sperm. According to the results of these studies, the erythropoietin takes part in the regulation of spermatogenesis, affecting the synthesis of hormones, in particular steroid ones. Currently, the physiological and pathogenetic effects of erythropoietin on human ejaculate have not been thoroughly studied. In this regard, the study of this protein in the ejaculate in patients with diseases of the male reproductive system, as well as in their absence, is relevant.The study objectiveis to determine the concentration of erythropoietin in ejaculate samples of healthy and men with oligoastenozoospermia.Materials and methods.Samples of ejaculate of 52 men of reproductive age were examined. The ejaculate was examined using the SQA-V sperm analyzer (MES, Israel). According to the results of the study, two groups were identified: the main group (n = 18) with reduced fertility and the control group (n = 34) with normal spermogram indicators. In seminal plasma samples, the concentration of erythropoietin was determined by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay using the test system “Erythropoietin-IFA-BEST” (A-8776) (Vector-best LLC, Russia).Results.Erythropoietin was detected in all ejaculate samples, the results ranged from 9.37 to 193.95 mME / ml and varied 20.7 times (p = 0.3). The median concentration in the main group was 64.49 mME / ml (41.96; 118.16 mME / ml) and 1.36 times higher than the results of the comparison group, which were 47.16 mME / ml (18.15; 90.94 mME / ml). No statistically significant regularities were found between the concentration of erythropoietin and the indicators of ejaculate fertility (r Conclusion.In oligoastenozoospermia, there is a tendency to increase the content of erythropoietin in the seminal plasma, which requires further research, taking into account a more detailed stratification of the groups examined for reasons that caused a decrease in the number of spermatozoa.

The study objective is to evaluate the antioxidant potential of seminal plasma in normozoospermia and asthenozoospermia.Materials and methods. Samples of ejaculate from 57 men of reproductive age were studied. Standard spermiologic examination and determination of the antioxidant potential of the seminal fluid using an original chemiluminescent method were performed. The method allowed to measure duration of the latent period from the moment of a decrease in luminescence of the solution containing reactive oxygen species (ROS) after addition of the seminal fluid until the most dramatic increase in luminescence corresponding to decreased antioxidant effect of the seminal fluid.Results. In the samples, the latent time varies from 4.6 to 17.5 minutes. Compared with normozoospermia, the antioxidant potential is significantly lower (p = 0.05) in men with asthenozoospermia (about 1.4 times), and even lower in patients with asthenoteratozoospermia (about 1.7 times) (p = 0.03). An inverse weak correlation was found between the activity of leukocytes and latent time in pathospermia (r = –0.23 and –0.18 for asthenozoospermia и asthenoteratozoospermia, respectively). A direct strong correlation was found between ROS-producing sperm activity and latent time in normozoospermia (p = 0.79), and inverse correlation in pathospermia (r = –0.26 and –0.62 for asthenozoospermia и asthenoteratozoospermia, respectively).Conclusion. Pathospermia is characterized by antioxidant seminal plasma deficiency, more pronounced for asthenoteratozoospermia. The antioxidant system of seminal plasma correlates with the ROS-producing ability of leukocytes and, to a greater extent, of the sperm. With normozoospermia, the oxidative balance is maintained, with pathospermia, a higher value of ROS production by sperm corresponds to a lower value of antioxidant capacity.

The study objective is to compare the biochemical characteristics of seminal fluid in men with astheno- and teratozoospermia and in men with idiopathic infertility. Materials and methods. We examined 207 patients aged 25 to 45 years. The level of total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase in seminal fluid was determined on an automatic biochemical analyzer. Results. Similar changes in the biochemical profile of the seminal fluid, in particular, a decrease in the level of albumin, were revealed in infertile men and men with infertility of unclear genesis. Conclusion. Biochemical characteristics of seminal fluid (level of proteins and enzymes) can serve as an indirect marker of male infertility.

Immunoglobulins free light chains (FLCs) are assayable in several biological fluids. Currently, there are no reports on FLCs in seminal plasma. The aims of our study were to investigate the presence and detectability of FLCs in seminal plasma and to evaluate the usefulness of this assay in the diagnostic approach to infertile patients. We enrolled 61 patients aged 18-50 years. Semen analysis was performed. They were divided into four groups: controls-normozoospermic, 10 patients, mean ± SEM age 35 ± 1.5 years; varicoceles (VAR), 18 patients aged 24.3 ± 0.96 years; inflammatory (INF) seminal fluids, 24 patients, aged 38.8 ± 2.2 years; and varicoceles and inflammatory (VAR/INF) seminal fluids, 9 patients, aged 29.5 ± 0.71 years. A trend towards higher λ FLCs levels was evidenced in the INF and VAR/INF groups. κ FLCs were higher in normozoospermic patients with lower levels in VAR, both isolated and associated with inflammatory parameters. This differential pattern of the two types of FLCs reached statistical significance when comparing κ/λ ratio, with significant lower levels in VAR vs controls. This is the first report of FLCs assay in seminal plasma. We can hypothesize that λ FLCs are increased in inflammatory processes, whether κ FLCs seem to be influenced by other molecular mechanisms related to varicocele.

The latest vaccination campaign has actualized the potential impact of antigenic stimuli on reproductive functions. To address this, we mimicked vaccination’s effects by administering keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH ) to CD1 male mice and used their sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Two-cell embryos after IVF with spermatozoa from control (C) or KLH-treated (Im) male mice were transferred to surrogate mothers mated with vasectomized control (C) or KLH-treated (Im) male mice, resulting in four experimental groups: C–C, Im–C, C–Im, and Im–Im. The pre-implantation losses were significantly lower in the Im–C group than in the C–Im group. At the same time, the resorption rates reduced markedly in the C–Im compared to the Im–C group. Embryo and placenta weights were significantly higher in the Im–Im group. Although the GM-CSF levels were lower in the amniotic fluid of the gestating surrogate mothers in the Im–Im group, they were strongly correlated with embryo mass. The number–size trade-off was only significant in the Im–Im group. This suggests a positive, cooperative effect of spermatozoa and seminal fluid from immune-primed males on embryo growth and the optimal distribution of surrogate mother maternal resources despite the negative impact of males’ antigenic challenge on the IVF success rate.

Background Viral detection in seminal fluid indicates their potential for both sexual transmission and impairment of reproductive health. Review of the mechanistic entry, sexual transmission and viral impacts for patients during major recent viral outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV), Ebola virus (EBOV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV), and SARS-coronavirus 2 (CoV-2) (the virus which causes COVID-19) provides a framework to discuss this potential. Aim Comparative analysis of prior viral presence on seminal fluid against current (preliminary) findings for SARS-CoV-2 to predict biological implications of the novel coronavirus upon current sexual transmissibility, viral presence, and reproductive health. Methodology and findings Literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. ZIKV and EBOV were found to be present in semen and to be sexually transmitted, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to update their guidelines on prevention of the two viruses to include refraining from sexual contact. There are conflicting studies regarding the presence of SARS-CoV in male reproductive tissue, but it has been linked to testicular atrophy and orchitis. To date, two studies have detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen, while seven studies have reported no positive detection. Conclusions Though unlikely in the majority of cases, SARS-CoV-2 can potentially be present in seminal fluid, although there are no reports of sexual transmission to date. Prior epidemics raise significant concerns regarding the long-term reproductive health capacity for patients who are affected by entry of Sars-CoV-2 into the reproductive tract, therefore more study is needed to clarify the impacts to reproductive health., Plain Language Summary This review describes the detection of viruses in seminal fluid and their sexual transmission, focusing on the major viral outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV), Ebola virus (EBOV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus (CoV), and SARS-coronavirus 2 (CoV-2). ZIKV and EBOV were found to be present in semen and to be sexually transmitted, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to update their guidelines on prevention of the two viruses to include refraining from sexual contact. There are conflicting studies regarding the presence of SARS-CoV in male reproductive tissue, but it has been linked to testicular atrophy and orchitis. To date, two studies have detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen, while seven studies have reported no positive detection. More studies must be completed to accurately determine its risk of sexual transmission to ensure mitigation of further transmission and understand the long-term implications of SARS-CoV-2 on the reproductive health of recovered patients.

A possible way of immunomodulation of the maternal immune system before pregnancy would be exposure to paternal antigens via seminal fluid to oral mucosa. We hypothesized that women with recurrent miscarriage have had less oral sex compared to women with uneventful pregnancy. In a matched case control study, 97 women with at least three unexplained consecutive miscarriages prior to the 20th week of gestation with the same partner were included. Cases were younger than 36 years at time of the third miscarriage. The control group included 137 matched women with an uneventful pregnancy. The association between oral sex and recurrent miscarriage was assessed with conditional logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) were estimated. Missing data were imputed using Imputation by Chained Equations. In the matched analysis, 41 out of 72 women with recurrent miscarriage had have oral sex, whereas 70 out of 96 matched controls answered positive to this question (56.9% vs. 72.9%, OR 0.50 95%CI 0.25−0.97, p = 0.04). After imputation of missing exposure data (51.7%), the association became weaker (OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.36–1.24, p = 0.21). In conclusion, this study suggests a possible protective role of oral sex in the occurrence of recurrent miscarriage in a proportion of the cases. Future studies in women with recurrent miscarriage explained by immune abnormalities should reveal whether oral exposure to seminal plasma indeed modifies the maternal immune system, resulting in more live births.

Reproductive organs play a pivotal role in asthma development and progression, especially in women. Endocrine environment changes associated with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can exacerbate the clinical features of asthma. Factors secreted by reproductive organs may be responsible for the gender difference and age-related changes in adult asthma. Here, we show that mammalian seminal fluid has anti-asthma effects exclusively in females. Exposure to murine seminal fluid markedly reduced eosinophilic airway inflammation in 2-month-old female mice upon ovalbumin inhalation. The anti-asthma effect with seminal fluid from 10-month-old males was double that with fluid from 2-month-old males, suggesting that it depended on male sexual maturation. We further found that seminal fluid from middle-aged human volunteers had beneficial effects in asthmatic female mice; these effects were associated with transcriptional repression of osteopontin and IL-17A, which are poor prognostic factors for asthma. In 2-month-old male mice, however, human seminal fluid failed to decrease asthmatic features and even enhanced osteopontin and IL-17A transcription. Our data demonstrate that age-related seminal fluid exerts opposing effects in asthmatic male and female mice. These findings may help the development of novel approaches to control the prevalence and age-related progression of asthma in women.

The preconceptional presence of microbiota in the female and male reproductive organs suggests that fertilization is taking place in a nonsterile environment and contributes to reproductive success. The concept of embryonic development in a sterile uterus has also been challenged with recent reports of the existence of a microbiome of the placenta, amniotic fluid and the fetal gut in normal, uncomplicated pregnancies. The maternal origins of the microbiota colonising the fetus and its surroundings are unknown as are the mechanisms of maternal-to-fetal transfer. In this review, we aim to highlight the preconception male and female microbiome, the maternal vaginal and gut microbiome during pregnancy and the fetal microbiome, including their possible roles in reproduction, and maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcome.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm among men. Since it often resembles benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), biomarkers with a higher differential value than PSA are required. Epigenetic biomarkers in liquid biopsies, especially miRNA, could address this challenge. The absolute expression of miR-375-3p, miR-182-5p, miR-21-5p, and miR-148a-3p were quantified in blood plasma and seminal plasma of 65 PCa and 58 BPH patients by digital droplet PCR. The sensitivity and specificity of these microRNAs were determined using ROC curve analysis. The higher expression of miR-182-5p and miR-375-3p in the blood plasma of PCa patients was statistically significant as compared to BPH (p = 0.0363 and 0.0226, respectively). Their combination achieved a specificity of 90.2% for predicting positive or negative biopsy results, while PSA cut-off of 4 µg/L performed with only 1.7% specificity. In seminal plasma, miR-375-3p, miR-182-5p, and miR-21-5p showed a statistically significantly higher expression in PCa patients with PSA &gt, 10 µg/L compared to ones with PSA ≤10 µg/L. MiR-182-5p and miR-375-3p in blood plasma show higher performance than PSA in discriminating PCa from BPH. Seminal plasma requires further investigation as it represents an obvious source for PCa biomarker identification.

28 página, 8 figuras., Seminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual glands. Its composition, despite species-specific anatomical peculiarities, consistently contains inorganic ions, specific hormones, proteins and peptides, including cytokines and enzymes, cholesterol, DNA and RNA-the latter often protected within epididymis- or prostate-derived extracellular vesicles. It is beyond question that the SP participates in diverse aspects of sperm function pre-fertilization events. The SP also interacts with the various compartments of the tubular genital tract, triggering changes in gene function that prepares for an eventual successful pregnancy; thus, it ultimately modulates fertility. Despite these concepts, it is imperative to remember that SP-free spermatozoa (epididymal or washed ejaculated) are still fertile, so this review shall focus on the differences between the in vivo roles of the SP following semen deposition in the female and those regarding additions of SP on spermatozoa handled for artificial reproduction, including cryopreservation, from artificial insemination to in vitro fertilization. This review attempts, including our own results on model animal species, to critically summarize the current knowledge of the reproductive roles played by SP components, particularly in our own species, which is increasingly affected by infertility. The ultimate goal is to reconcile the delicate balance between the SP molecular concentration and their concerted effects after temporal exposure in vivo. We aim to appraise the functions of the SP components, their relevance as diagnostic biomarkers and their value as eventual additives to refine reproductive strategies, including biotechnologies, in livestock models and humans., The research of the authors was funded by the Research Council FORMAS, Stockholm (Project 2017-00946 and Project 2019-00288), the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet, VR; project 2015-05919) Stockholm, Sweden and the MICINN (Spain) and FEDER EU-funds (AGL2015-69735-R, AGL2015-69738-R, PID2020-113493RB-100, RTI2018-093525-B-I00), Madrid, Spain

Purpose Due to relevant repercussions on reproductive medicine, we aimed to evaluate feasibility of RT-PCR as a detection method of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in seminal fluid. Methods A qualitative determination of the RT-PCR assays in semen was performed through different approaches: (1) efficiency of RNA extraction from sperm and seminal plasma was determined using PRM1 and PRM2 mRNA and a heterologous system as control; (2) samples obtained by diluting viral preparation from a SARS-CoV-2 panel (virus cultured in Vero E6 cell lines) were tested; (3) viral presence in different fractions of seminal fluid (whole sample, seminal plasma and post-centrifugation pellet) was evaluated. Semen samples from mild and recovered COVID-19 subjects were collected by patients referring to the Infectious Disease Department of the Policlinico Umberto I Hospital - “Sapienza” University of Rome. Control subjects were recruited at the Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank “Loredana Gandini'' of the same hospital. Results The control panel using viral preparations diluted in saline and seminal fluid showed the capability to detect viral RNA presence with Ct values depending on the initial viral concentration. All tested semen samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2, regardless of the nasopharyngeal swab result or seminal fluid fraction. Conclusion These preliminary data show that RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing appears to be a feasible method for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in seminal fluid, supported by results of the control panel. The ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in semen is extremely important for reproductive medicine, especially in assisted reproductive technology and sperm cryopreservation.

Sperm competition theory predicts that males should tailor ejaculates according to their social status. Here, we test this in a model vertebrate, the house mouse ( Mus musculus domesticus ), combining experimental data with a quantitative proteomics analysis of seminal fluid composition. Our analyses reveal that both sperm production and the composition of proteins found in seminal vesicle secretions differ according to social status. Dominant males invested more in ejaculate production overall. Their epididymides contained more sperm than those of subordinate or control males, despite similar testes size between the groups. Dominant males also had larger seminal vesicle glands than subordinate or control males, despite similar body size. However, the seminal vesicle secretions of subordinate males had a significantly higher protein concentration than those of dominant males. Moreover, detailed proteomic analysis revealed subtle but consistent differences in the composition of secreted seminal vesicle proteins according to social status, involving multiple proteins of potential functional significance in sperm competition. These findings have significant implications for understanding the dynamics and outcome of sperm competition, and highlight the importance of social status as a factor influencing both sperm and seminal fluid investment strategies. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fifty years of sperm competition’.

Great concerns have been raised on SARS‐CoV‐2 impact on men’s andrological well‐being and one of the critically unanswered questions is whether it is present or not in the seminal fluid of infected subjects. The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in the testis and in the male genital tract allows speculations about a possible testicular involvement during the infection, possibly mediated by local and/or systemic inflammation that might allow a high viral load to overcome the haemato‐testicular barrier. To date, few investigations have been carried out to ascertain the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the seminal fluid with contrasting results. Furthermore, the cumulative number of subjects is far too low to answer the question unambiguously. Therefore, great caution is still needed when evaluating this data, otherwise we risk unleashing unmotivated concerns in the scientific world with troublesome consequences in reproductive medicine.

Steroids are essential hormones that play a crucial role in homeostasis of many biological processes including sexual development, spermatogenesis, sperm physiology and fertility. Although steroids have been largely studied in many biological matrices (such as urine and plasma), there is very limited information of the steroid content and their study as potential indicators of the quality of the seminal fluid. In this study, a LC-HRMS (liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry) strategy has been developed in order to obtain the extended steroid profile of human seminal fluid. A comparison between supported liquid extraction (SLE) and solid liquid extraction (SPE) was carried out and the chosen SPE method was further optimized to evidence the largest possible number of compounds. Steroids were automatically annotated by using DynaStI, a publicly available retention time prediction tool developed in our lab, to match the experimental data (i.e. accurate mass and tR). Altogether, these resources allowed us to develop a post-targeted approach able to consistently detect 41 steroids in seminal fluid (with half of them being androgens). Such steroid pattern was found to be stable across different extraction times and injection days. In addition to accurate mass and retention time, the identity of 70% of the steroids contained in such steroid profile was confirmed by comparing their fragmentation patterns in real samples to those of pure commercial standards. Finally, the workflow was applied to compare and distinguish the steroid profile in seminal fluid from healthy volunteers (n = 7, with one of them being a vasectomized subject). In all, the developed steroidomics strategy allows to reliably monitor an extended panel of 41 steroids in human seminal fluid.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an infrequent, but one of the most successful bacteria that associated with infertility and are able to spermatozoa immobilization and agglutination. Objective: The aim of present study was to determine the frequency of S. aureus in semen obtained from infertile male patients in northwest Iran. Materials and Methods: Seminal fluids of 100 infertile men were evaluated. Standard semen examination was done according to World Health Organization guidelines. After isolation and identification of S. aureus isolates according to reference methods, determination of susceptibility against important antibiotics and polymerase chain reaction were performed to identify mecA and tst genes. Results: Data obtained from the present study shows that 16% of infertile male patients were colonized by S. aureus. Ten (62.5%) of the individuals had abnormal seminal fluid sperm motility and morphology and three (18.8%) of them had an abnormal seminal fluid density, whereas after washing with albumin-saline declined to 5 (31.3%), 4 (25%) and 1 (6.3%), respectively. The antibiogram results showed that, except penicillin, other antibiotics have high activity on isolates. Regarding polymerase chain reaction results, mecA sequences were detected in 3 (18.7%) strains, whilst the tst gene encoding TSST-1 was not detected in any of clinical strains. Conclusion: It would appear that the S. aureus may be an additional negative factor worsening sperm quality and affecting male fertility. Therefore, it demands that all the patients attending in infertility treatment facilities be investigated thoroughly.

Introduction The importance of seminal vesicle secretion and uterine Wnt signaling for uterus preparation and embryo implantation has been described. Materials and Methods In this study, we evaluated the gene expression of Wnt ligands (Wnt4 and Wnt5a) and their corresponding receptors (Fzd2 and Fzd6) using qRT-PCR and active β-catenin protein levels using western blotting in the uterine tissue of female mice mated with intact and seminal vesicle-excised (SVX) males during the pre-implantation window. We evaluated the association between these factors and implantation rates and embryo spacing. Results mRNA expression of Wnt4 and Wnt5a and active β-catenin protein levels decreased from Day 1 to Day 4, but reached a peak on the fifth day of pregnancy. Fzd2 also reached its highest level on Day 5. Fzd6 expression showed a decreasing trend towards the day of implantation. Lack of seminal vesicle secretion decreased Wnt4 and Wnt5a expression on Days 1 and 5 and β-catenin levels on Day 5. There were almost no significant differences in expression levels of the Fzd2 and Fzd6 receptors between groups. There were positive and negative correlations, respectively, between implantation rates and embryo spacing and Wnt4, Wnt5a and active β-catenin in the control group, but such correlations were not observed in the SVX-mated mice. Conclusions Significant changes occurred in the expression of several Wnt signaling members and there was a significant association between Wnt signaling and embryo implantation. Seminal vesicle secretion affects Wnt signaling in mice and consequently also affects murine embryo implantation.

Central to pregnancy success is a state of T cell tolerance to paternal antigens, which is initiated at conception. The role and regulation of specific phenotypes of CD8 + T cells in mediating pregnancy tolerance is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the impact on pregnancy outcome of altering the cytokine environment during maternal CD8 + T cell priming in early pregnancy. Transgenic Act-mOVA male mice were mated to C57BL/6 (B6) females to generate fetuses expressing ovalbumin (OVA) as a model paternal antigen. OVA-reactive CD8 + OT-I T cells were activated in vitro with OVA in the presence of either transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFB1) plus interleukin-10 (IL10), or IL2, to mimic normal or dysregulated uterine conditions, respectively, and transferred into pregnant mice on gestational day 3.5. OT-I T cells activated with TGFB1 and IL10, like naive OT-I T cells, did not alter embryo implantation or fetal viability. In contrast, OT-I T cells activated with IL2 caused extensive fetal loss manifesting in mid-gestation. IL2-activated OT-I T cells expressed less FOXP3 and higher interferon-Î 3 (IFNG) than cells activated with TGFB1 and IL10. Fetal loss did not occur in females mated with B6 males, demonstrating the antigen specificity of fetal loss, and was not abrogated by maternal genetic C1q deficiency indicating a mechanism independent of antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. These data indicate that alternative phenotypes generated in maternal CD8 + T cells at the time of priming with paternal antigens can impact pregnancy outcome, such that inappropriate activation of CD8 + T cells before implantation is capable of causing antigen-specific fetal loss later in pregnancy. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

All social insects with obligate reproductive division of labor evolved from strictly monogamous ancestors, but multiple queen-mating (polyandry) arose de novo, in several evolutionarily derived lineages. Polyandrous ant queens are inseminated soon after hatching and store sperm mixtures for a potential reproductive life of decades. However, they cannot re-mate later in life and are thus expected to control the loss of viable sperm because their lifetime reproductive success is ultimately sperm limited. In the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica,, the survival of newly inseminated sperm is known to be compromised by seminal fluid of rival males and to be protected by secretions of the queen sperm storage organ (spermatheca). Here we investigate the main protein-level interactions that appear to mediate sperm competition dynamics and sperm preservation. We conducted an artificial insemination experiment and DIGE-based proteomics to identify proteomic changes when seminal fluid is exposed to spermathecal fluid followed by a mass spectrometry analysis of both secretions that allowed us to identify the sex-specific origins of the proteins that had changed in abundance. We found that spermathecal fluid targets only seven (2%) of the identified seminal fluid proteins for degradation, including two proteolytic serine proteases, a SERPIN inhibitor, and a semen-liquefying acid phosphatase. In vitro, and in vivo, experiments provided further confirmation that these proteins are key molecules mediating sexual conflict over sperm competition and viability preservation during sperm storage. In vitro, exposure to spermathecal fluid reduced the capacity of seminal fluid to compromise survival of rival sperm in a matter of hours and biochemical inhibition of these seminal fluid proteins largely eliminated that adverse effect. Our findings indicate that A. colombica, queens are in control of sperm competition and sperm storage, a capacity that has not been documented in other animals but is predicted to have independently evolved in other polyandrous social insects.

Sulfate-based lipids (SL) have been proposed as players in inflammation, immunity and infection. In spite of the many biochemical processes linked to SL, analysis on this class of lipids has only focused on specific SL sub-classes in individual fluids or cells leaving a range of additional SL in other biological samples unaccounted for. This study describes the mass spectrometry screening of SL in lipid extracts of human fluids (saliva, plasma, urine, seminal fluid) and primary human cells (RBC, neutrophils, fibroblasts and skin epidermal) using targeted precursor ion scanning (PIS) approach. The PIS 97 mass spectra reveal a wide diversity of SL including steroid sulfates, sulfoglycolipids and other unidentified SL, as well as metabolites such as taurines, sulfated polyphenols and hypurate conjugates. Semi-quantification of SL revealed that plasma exhibited the highest content of SL whereas seminal fluid and epithelial cells contained the highest sulphur to phosphorous (S/P) ratio. The complexity of biofluids and cells sulfateome presented in this study highlight the importance of expanding the panel of synthetic sulfate-based lipid standards. Also, the heterogenous distribution of SL provides evidence for the interplay of sulfotransferases/sulfatases, opening new avenues for biomarker discovery in oral health, cardiovascular, fertility and dermatology research areas. published

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:03:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-07-02 The male reproductive system of L. schmitti is described, including spermatozoon ultrastructure. The testis is composed of 8 to 14 lobules arranged as seminiferous tubules. The proximal vas deferens is short and filled with spermatozoa without spikes. The median vas deferens is larger than the other parts of the vas deferens and it shows two ducts separated by typhlosoles, the sperm and accessory ducts. The former is filled with sperm masses, while the accessory duct shows only secretions that are part of the spermatophore material. In this region, the spermatozoa have a spike, indicating the end of the spermatogenesis. The distal vas deferens is a short tube ending in the ampulla, composed of three parts. The spermatozoa have a round main body and an anterior spike associated with the acrosomal cap. The subacrosomal space has a centrosome-like structure above the nucleus. The features of the male reproductive system of L. schmitti share the pattern of penaeoidean shrimps with closed thelyca related to the median vas deferens and the ampulla. All the differences in spermatozoon morphology and vasa deferentia are discussed, and compared to other Litopenaeus species. Departamento de Ciências Naturais - Zoologia Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia Campus de Vitoria da Conquista Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Fundação Instituto de Pesca do Estado do Rio de Janeiro Colégio Agrícola Italo Milleno Lopes, Av. Presidente Vargas, 197 - Parque de Exposições Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental Argentina e IBBEA CONICET-UBA Universidad de Buenos Aires Invertebrate Morphology Laboratory (IML); Aquaculture Center of UNESP (CAUNESP) and IEAMAR-UNESP Departamento de Biologia FCAV Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Electron Microscopy Center Institute of Bioscience Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Invertebrate Morphology Laboratory (IML); Aquaculture Center of UNESP (CAUNESP) and IEAMAR-UNESP Departamento de Biologia FCAV Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Electron Microscopy Center Institute of Bioscience Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Extracellular RNAs are gaining clinical interest as biofluid-based noninvasive markers for diseases, especially cancer. In particular, derivatives of transfer RNA (tRNA) are emerging as a new class of small-noncoding RNAs with high biomarker potential. We and others previously reported alterations in serum levels of specific tRNA halves in disease states including cancer. Here, we explored seminal fluid for tRNA halves as potential markers of prostate cancer. We found that 5′ tRNA halves are abundant in seminal fluid and are elevated in prostate cancer relative to noncancer patients. Importantly, most of these tRNA halves are also detectable in prostatic tissues, and a subset were increased in malignant relative to adjacent normal tissue. These findings emphasize the potential of 5′ tRNA halves as noninvasive markers for prostate cancer screening and diagnosis and provide leads for future work to elucidate a putative role of the 5′ tRNA halves in carcinogenesis.

Artificial insemination has been a landmark procedure in improving animal agriculture over the past 150 years. The utility of artificial insemination has facilitated a rapid improvement in animal genetics across agricultural species, leading to improvements of growth, health and productivity in poultry, swine, equine and cattle species. The utility of artificial insemination, as with all assisted reproductive technologies side-steps thousands of years of evolution that has led to the development of physiological systems to ensure the transmission of genetics from generation to generation. The perceived manipulation of these physiological systems as a consequence of assisted reproduction are points of interest in which research could potentially improve the success of these technologies. Indeed, seminal fluid is either removed or substantially diluted when semen is prepared for artificial insemination in domestic species. Although seminal fluid is not a requirement for pregnancy, could the removal of seminal fluid from the ejaculate have negative consequences on reproductive outcomes that could be improved to further the economic benefit of artificial insemination? One such potential influence of seminal fluid on reproduction stems from the question; how does the allogeneic foetus survive gestation in the face of the maternal immune system? Observation of the maternal immune system during pregnancy has noted maternal immune tolerance to paternal-specific antigens; a mechanism by which the maternal immune system tolerates specific paternal antigens expressed on the foetus. In species like human or rodent, implantation occurs days after fertilisation and as such the mechanisms to establish antigen-specific tolerance must be initiated very early during pregnancy. We and others propose that these mechanisms are initiated at the time of insemination when paternal antigens are first introduced to the maternal immune system. It is unclear whether such mechanisms would also be involved in domestic species, such as cattle, where implantation occurs weeks later in gestation. A new paradigm detailing the importance of paternal-maternal communication at the time of insemination is becoming evident as it relates to maternal tolerance to foetal antigen and ultimately pregnancy success.

From many endangered or threatened species which are expected to profit from assisted reproduction techniques, mainly epididymal sperm of dead or freshly castrated males are available. These sperm had contact to epididymal secretion products but not to seminal fluid components. Notably, products of accessory sex glands have been shown in domestic animals to condition sperm for fertilization, in particular by mediating sperm-oviduct interaction. We report for the first time that motile epididymal sperm from domestic cats are able to bind to fresh oviduct epithelial cell explants from preovulatory females (median [min, max] of 10 [8, 16] and 10 [8, 17] sperm per 0.01 mm(2) explant surface from both isthmic and ampullar regions, respectively). More sperm attach to the explants when epididymal sperm were preincubated for 30 minutes with seminal fluid separated from electroejaculates of mature tomcats (median [min, max] of 17 [13, 25] and 16 [12, 21] sperm per 0.01 mm(2) explant surface from isthmus and ampulla, respectively). The proportion of bound sperm increased from a median of 54% to 62% by seminal fluid treatment. Sperm-oviduct binding could be facilitated by the decelerated sperm motion which was observed in seminal fluid-treated samples or supported by seminal fluid proteins newly attached to the sperm surface. Seminal fluid had no effect on the proportion of sperm with active mitochondria. Extent and pattern of sperm interaction in vitro were independent of explant origin from isthmus or ampulla. Sperm were attached to both cilia and microvilli of the main epithelial cell types present in all explants. In contrast to published sperm-binding studies with porcine and bovine oviduct explants where predominantly the anterior head region of sperm was attached to ciliated cells, the tails of some cat sperm were firmly stuck to the oviduct cell surfaces, whereas the heads were wobbling. Whether this response is a preliminary step toward phagocytosis or a precondition to capacitation and fertilization remains to be determined. In conclusion, treatment of epididymal sperm with seminal fluid or particular protein components should be considered in future investigations for its potential to improve the outcome of artificial insemination in felids.

ProblemIncreasing evidence suggests modulation of the maternal immune response to be essential for successful pregnancy. We studied the immunophenotypic profile and function of peripheral blood T lymphocytes in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertile control population.MethodWe collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from infertile patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF), infertile patients with successful IVF (IVFs), and normal fertile women. Cells were phenotypically analyzed, and the proliferative response and cytokine production were studied in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC), using lymphocytes of the own partner, or a third-party male as stimulators cells. To examine the suppressive capacity of regulatory regulatory T cells (Tregs), we performed MLC studies with a CD45(+) fraction depleted for CD4(+)CD25(bright) T cells.ResultsNo significant differences in proportions of subsets of circulating T lymphocytes were observed. The proliferative allo-immune response of PBMC of IVF women (RIF and IVFs) was significantly higher, with higher production of T-helper cells (Th1) and Th2 cytokines, compared to the fertile women. This difference in proliferation and cytokine production was associated with a diminished suppressive capacity of Tregs in these women.ConclusionThe higher allo-immune response of the IVF women compared to fertile women might be the result of a diminished suppressive capacity of Tregs and emphasizes the important role of Tregs during conception.

Males of many animal species fight to establish social dominance and control access to females so that they have more opportunities to reproduce than their competitors. Males with lower social status will struggle to directly compete for mates, thus they attempt to mate with females by stealth. This often leads to more than one male mating with the same female so that the sperm from each male end up competing to fertilise that female’s eggs, a phenomenon known as sperm competition. Males suspend their sperm in a fluid to make a mixture known as semen. It has been shown that, compared to high status males, low status males will produce higher quality semen that contains greater numbers of faster swimming sperm, giving them an advantage in sperm competition. Growing evidence from several species indicates that males can quickly adjust how fast their sperm swim in response to social cues that signal changing risks of sperm competition. However, how these rapid adjustments occur remains largely unknown, and whether they alter a male’s reproductive success against a competitor has seldom been examined. Chinook salmon usually live in the North Pacific Ocean but they swim up rivers in North America and Asia to reproduce. They have also been introduced to several other countries including New Zealand where they are farmed commercially. The fish are highly prized by sport fishermen and are also of cultural significance to certain groups of indigenous people in North America. Barlett et al. studied the semen of chinook salmon, undertaking a series of experiments in which males switched between high and low social status. The experiments show that, as predicted, the sperm of males that changed from high to low social status started to swim faster. These changes in speed were caused by the fluid in the semen and altered the number of eggs that the male’s sperm fertilised when competing against sperm from another male. In their natural range some populations of chinook salmon are declining due to overfishing combined with habitat loss and alteration. The findings of Barlett et al. contribute to a better understanding of how this fish species reproduces, which may lead to the introduction of measures that help natural populations to recover or help to improve commercial farming. Improved knowledge of how the fluid in semen affects sperm activity may also have important consequences for our wider understanding of male fertility in humans and other animals.

Only 2-5% of seminal fluid is composed of spermatozoa, while the rest is seminal plasma. The seminal plasma is a rich cocktail of organic and inorganic compounds including hormones, serving as a source of nutrients for sperm development and maturation, protecting them from infection and enabling them to overcome the immunological and chemical environment of the female reproductive tract. In this review, a survey of the hormones found in human seminal plasma, with particular emphasis on reproductive hormones is provided. Their participation in fertilization is discussed including their indispensable role in ovum fertilization. The origin of individual hormones found in seminal plasma is discussed, along with differences in the concentrations in seminal plasma and blood plasma. A part of review is devoted to methods of measurement, emphasising particular instances in which they differ from measurement in blood plasma. These methods include separation techniques, overcoming the matrix effect and current ways for end-point measurement, focusing on so called hyphenated techniques as a combination of chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry. Finally, the informative value of their determination as markers of male fertility disorders (impaired spermatogenesis, abnormal sperm parameters, varicocele) is discussed, along with instances where measuring their levels in seminal plasma is preferable to measurement of levels in blood plasma.Les spermatozoïdes ne représentent que 2 à 25% du liquide séminal, le reste étant constitué par le plasma séminal. Le plasma séminal est un cocktail de composés organiques et non organiques comprenant des hormones qui font office de source de substances nutritives pour le développement et la maturation des spermatozoïdes, qui les protègent de l’infection et leur permettent de surmonter l’environnement immunologique et chimique de l’appareil reproducteur féminin. La présente revue propose une vue d’ensemble des hormones retrouvées dans le plasma séminal de l’homme, l’accent étant particulièrement mis sur les hormones reproductives. La participation de ces dernières au processus de fécondation est discutée, y compris leur rôle indispensable dans la fécondation de l’ovocyte. L’origine de chacune des hormones retrouvées dans le plasma séminal est décrite, ainsi que les différences de leurs concentrations dans le plasma séminal et dans le plasma sanguin. Une partie de cette revue est dévolue aux méthodes de mesure, en soulignant des exemples particuliers où elles diffèrent des mesures dans le plasma sanguin. Ces méthodes comprennent les techniques de séparation, qui surmontent les effets matriciels et les procédures actuelles de critère de mesure, en se concentrant sur les techniques dites de couplage comme la combinaison de la séparation chromatographique et de la spectrométrie de masse. Enfin, la valeur informative de la détermination de ces hormones en tant que marqueurs des anomalies de la fertilité masculine (spermatogenèse altérée, paramètres spermatiques anormaux, varicocèle) est discutée, ainsi que les situations où la mesure de leurs taux dans le plasma séminal est préférable à celle du plasma sanguin.

Background Diagnosis and monitoring of localized prostate cancer requires discovery and validation of noninvasive biomarkers. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics of seminal plasma reportedly improves diagnostic accuracy, but requires validation in a high-risk clinical cohort. Materials and methods Seminal plasma samples of 151 men being investigated for prostate cancer were analyzed with 1 H-NMR spectroscopy. After adjustment for buffer (add-to-subtract) and endogenous enzyme influence on metabolites, metabolite profiling was performed with multivariate statistical analysis (principal components analysis, partial least squares) and targeted quantitation. Results Seminal plasma metabolites best predicted low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer with differences observed between these groups and benign samples. Lipids/lipoproteins dominated spectra of high grade samples with less metabolite contributions. Overall prostate cancer prediction using previously described metabolites was not validated. Conclusion Metabolomics of seminal plasma in vitro may assist urologists with diagnosis and monitoring of either low or intermediate grade prostate cancer. Less clinical benefit may be observed for high-risk patients. Further investigation in active surveillance cohorts, and/or in combination with in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging may further optimize localized prostate cancer outcomes.

Spearman rank correlation analysis was applied to assess some interrelations between morphological abnormalities of spermatozoids in males with long-term infertility, and cytokine levels in their seminal plasma. Such statistical analysis has revealed a significant positive correlation between prevalence of morphologically abnormal spermatozoids and the levels of IL-1β, MIP-1β, G-CSF, along with negative relationship with IL-5 and IL-10 contents in seminal fluid. The data are, generally, demonstrating participation of cytokines in regulation of male fertility. (Med. Immunol., 2008, Vol. 10, N 2-3, pp 203-208) .

We report on an Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivor who showed Ebola virus (EBOV) in seminal fluid 531 days after onset of disease. The persisting virus was sexually transmitted in February 2016, about 470 days after onset of symptoms, and caused a new cluster of EVD in Guinea and Liberia.

Knowing the mode of transmission of a disease can affect its control and prevention. Here, we identify 5 protozoan parasites with demonstrated presence in seminal fluid, only 1 of which has been identified as a sexually transmitted disease among humans.

New approaches need to be pursued towards the assessment of sperm quality using biochemical markers and develop this markers to assess sperm function. The current study included analyzed 52 samples of human's seminal fluid wich classified into three classes: fertile normospermea (control), infertile oligospermea and azospermea. The percentage of dead sperms were obtaind by using eosin die in addition to the use of trypan blue to show the intact acrosome. The results of the study showed that the concentration of sperm in human's seminal fluid samples was (63x106/ml).The results showed ahigher level of creatine kinase CK activity in human seminal plasma in an infertile oligospermic (113.3±17U/L) and azospermic cases (97.1±11U/L) in comparison to the control normospermic case (48.5±9U/L).

Summary Vitrification is a new method that has been recently introduced in Assisted Reproduction Technique programs. The aim of this study was to design a new medium similar to normal human seminal fluid (SF), formulation artificial seminal fluid (ASF), and to compare the cryoprotective potency of this medium with SF and human tubal fluid (HTF) medium. Thirty normal ejaculates were processed with the swim-up technique and sperm suspensions were divided into four aliquots: (i) fresh sample (control); (ii) vitrification in HTF medium supplemented with 5 mg/mL human serum albumin and 0.25 mol sucrose (Vit HTF); (iii) vitrification with patients’ SF (Vit SF); and (iv) vitrification in ASF (Vit ASF). After warming, sperm parameters of motility, viability, and morphology were analyzed using WHO criteria. Also, sperm pellets were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and processed for scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy observations. The results showed that progressive motility (46.09 ± 10.33 vs. 36.80 ± 13.75), grade A motility (36.59 ± 11.40 vs. 16.41 ± 11.24), and normal morphology (18.74 ± 8.35 vs. 11.85 ± 5.84) and viability (68.22 ± 10.83 vs. 60.86 ± 11.72) of spermatozoa were significantly higher in Vit ASF than in Vit HTF. All parameters were better in Vit ASF than in Vit SF, but only viability was significantly different (p = 0.006). After cryopreservation, deep invagination in cytoplasm and mechanically weak point sites and folded tail were commonly observed. But, this phenomenon was more significant in Vit HTF and Vit SF than in ASF (p

Cervical cancer is one of the leading gynecological malignancies in women. We have recently shown that seminal plasma (SP) can regulate the inflammatory cyclooxygenase-prostaglandin pathway and enhance the growth of cervical epithelial tumours in vivo by promoting cellular proliferation and alteration of vascular function. This study investigated the molecular mechanism whereby SP regulates vascular function using an in vitro model system of HeLa cervical adenocarcinoma cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that SP rapidly enhanced the expression of the angiogenic chemokines, interleukin (IL)-8 and growth regulated oncogene alpha (GRO) in HeLa cells in a time-dependent manner. We investigated the molecular mechanism of SP-mediated regulation of IL-8 and GRO using a panel of chemical inhibitors of cell signalling. We found that treatment of HeLa cells with SP elevated expression of IL-8 and GRO by transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and induction of cyclooxygenase enzymes and nuclear factor kappa B. We investigated the impact of IL-8 and GRO, released from HeLa cells after treatment with SP, on vascular function using a co-culture model system of conditioned medium (CM) from HeLa cells, treated with or without SP, and HUVECs. We found that CM from HeLa cells induced the arrangement of endothelial cells into a network of tube-like structures via the CXCR2 receptor on HUVECs. Taken together our data outline a molecular mechanism whereby SP can alter vascular function in cervical cancers via the pro-angiogenic chemokines, IL-8 and GRO.

Seminal fluid factors have been shown to play a significant role in fertility in many animals. However, little is known about the contributions of seminal fluid to male fertility in C. elegans. In this commentary, we summarize our recent finding of a seminal fluid sperm activator, the serine protease TRY-5. TRY-5 is required for males to activate sperm, yet surprisingly it is not required for male fertility, likely due to redundancy with an activator present in hermaphrodites. TRY-5 is transferred to hermaphrodites during mating in a series of distinct release events just prior to transfer of sperm. Thus, we propose a model in which TRY-5 cleaves sperm cell surface proteins to trigger sperm maturation. We discuss other possible roles for seminal fluid factors in C. elegans and prospects for using TRY-5 as a marker for studies of male mating behavior and seminal fluid secretion.

Highlights ► A biologically active peptide (Aea-HP-1) has been chemically identified from Aedes aegypti male accessory glands. ► Aea-HP-1 is transferred to the female on copulating. ► Aea-HP-1 is protected from peptide-degrading enzymes of the accessory gland. ► Aea-HP-1 is not a mosquito ‘sex peptide’, but probably alters host-seeking behavior of the post-mated female., Male accessory glands (MAGs) of insects are responsible for the production of many of the seminal fluid proteins and peptides that elicit physiological and behavioral responses in the post-mated female. In the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, seminal fluid components are responsible for stimulating egg production, changing female behavior away from host-seeking toward egg-laying and mating refractoriness, but hitherto no behavior-modifying molecule from the MAGs has been structurally characterized. We now show using mass spectrometry and HPLC/ELISA that the MAG is a major site of synthesis of the biologically active decapeptide, Aea-HP-1 (pERPhPSLKTRFamide) that was first characterized by Matsumoto and colleagues in 1989 from mosquito head extracts and shown to have host-seeking inhibitory properties. The peptide is localized to the anterior portion of the MAG, occurs at high concentrations in the gland and is transferred to the female reproductive tract on copulation. Aea-HP-1 has a pyroglutamic acid at the N-terminus, an amidated carboxyl at the C-terminus and an unusual 4-hydroxyproline in position 4 of the peptide. The structure of the peptide with its blocked N- and C-termini confers resistance to metabolic inactivation by MAG peptidases; however the peptide persists for less than 2 h in the female reproductive tract after copulation. Aea-HP-1 is not a ligand for the mosquito sex peptide/myoinhibitory peptide receptor. A. aegypti often mate close to the host and therefore it is possible that male-derived Aea-HP-1 induces short-term changes to female host-seeking behavior to reduce potentially lethal encounters with hosts soon after insemination.

Objectives To investigate Mycoplasma prevalence rate among infertile Jordanian patients and determine the possible role of asymptomatic Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum as an infectious factor that might affect semen quality in infertility, mainly varicose-related one. Setting Medical Hussein City Hospital in Jordan. Materials and methods Seminal fluids obtained from 99 infertile patients were tested for the presence of M. hominis and U. urealyticum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed for motility, counts and viscosity. Cases involved were 33(27.5%) infertile with varicocele, 8(24.2%) with normal seminal fluid parameters, 25(75.8%) with abnormal, and 66(55%) infertile patients (all showed a decrease in sperm concentration and motility). Twenty-one fertile males (17.5%) were used as control. DNA primer pairs specific for 16S ribosomal RNA gene of M. hominis and urease gene of U. urealyticum were utilized for PCR. Results M. hominis and U. urealyticum were present in 9(27.3%), 4(12.1%) of seminal fluids of infertile-varicose patients, 12(18.2%), 11(16.7%) of infertile and only in 3(14.3%), and 0(0%) fertile male, respectively. The presence of the two species among infertility cases was significantly correlated ( p =0.039). A high percentage of M. hominis was recorded in varicose-infertile males. U. urealyticum was significantly associated with infertility cases (without varicocele) in comparison with control ( p =0.046). It exerts a minor effect on the mean values of sperm motility by decreasing a and b grades’ motility. Conclusion The differences in the occurrence of M. hominis were statistically insignificant among infertility and control groups, but it was significant for U. urealyticum ( p =0.046). M. hominis occurs more frequently in the semen of infertile-varicose male and normal seminal fluid quality. It seems to have no adverse effects on sperm motility but it might decline the fertility potential in such cases. U. urealyticum on the other hand have no clear significant impacts on sperm motility. The mean values for sperm motility, concentrations, and viscosity were not affected by the presence of the two species. Despite the significant presence of Ureaplasma among infertility, further studies were needed to clarify their potential effect on semen quality and infertility status.