Diagnosis of Accessory Gland Infection and its Possible Role in Male Infertility

Abstract

The diagnosis of male adnexitis is difficult and the influence of this condition on fertility is still a matter of debate. With the intention to define diagnostic criteria a comprehensive study of biochemical and morphological features of semen, plus culture for microorganisms, was performed in patients who were assessed for infertility during a four year period. The following parameters were considered of diagnostic value: a) history of urogenital infection and/or abnormal rectal palpation. b) significant alterations in the expressed prostatic fluid and/or urinary sediment after prostatic massage. c) 1. Uniform growth of more than 10(3) pathogenic bacteria, or more than 10(4) non-pathogenic bacteria per ml, in culture of diluted seminal plasma. c) 2. Presence of more than 10(6) (peroxidase positive) leucocytes per ml of ejaculate. c) 3. Signs of disturbed secretory function of the prostate or seminal vesicles. The diagnosis of infection is accepted if either of the following combinations if found: a + b, a + c (1 or 2 or 3), b + c (1 or 2 or 3), c1 + c2, c1 + c3, c2 + c3.

Effect of leukocytospermia and processing by discontinuous density gradient on sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial activity

“…Leukocytospermia is an important indicator of male urogenital tract infections and/or inflammations [27], and is considered a contributing cause of male infertility [1] because of excessive ROS production and release [3]. Imbalances between ROS production and semen antioxidant capacity will lead to oxidative stress [9,10], which will ultimately result in oxidation of membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids [14,15], loss of mitochondrial membrane potential [16], and single and double strand DNA fragmentation [17].…”

The Impact of Bacterial Infections on Human Spermatozoa

“…The major difficulty in interpreting microbiological findings is the presence of contaminating, indig enous microbiota, or of inhibitory substances known to be present in the prostate secretions, as well as previous courses of antibiotics (77). The diagnosis of semen bacterial infection may be confirmed by semen quantitative bacteriological cultures.…”

“…It is also the primary bacteria associated with prostatitis and epididymitis (77). E. coli has a passive effect on sperm motility and acrosomal function (48).…”

Nonsperm Cells in Human Semen: With Special Reference to Seminal Leukocytes and their Possible Influence on Fertility

“…Examining 500 ejaculates, Comhaire et al [26] found a significant positive association between the presence of more than lo6 peroxidase-positive WBC/mL and the frequency of pathogenic isolates. Furthermore, in some studies antibiotic treatment of men with leukocytospermia seems to have caused disappearance of seminal leukocytes and improved sperm motility and pregnancy outcome (Table 7).…”