Detection of spermatophagia in the ejaculate of infertile patients

Abstract

Among the presently recognized factors related to reproductive anomalies in the human male, are the alterations of semen, mainly represented by defects in spermatic motility or asthenospermia . Autoinmune and infections could be responsible for a number of these cases . In both of these, a distinguishing factor is spermatophagocytosis, which may be unreckognizable in optic microscopy bat which is very apparent in electron microscopy.To study the incidence of this event in cases of asthenoteratozoospermia, and its relation to infections and immune disorders, we studied a series of 60 infertile patients that presented motility defects and a control group of 5 volunteers of proven recent paternity. After 3 to 7 days of sexual abstinence, 1 or 2 semen samples were obtanied from each patient by masturbation. The samples were washed in phosphate buffered saline, double fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehide and 1% osmium tetraoxide and included in epoxi resin by the conventional method. Thick and thin sections were obtained whith a diamon knife and were examined microscopically. Electron micrographs of representative areas were analyzed.