Revisiting the assessment of semen viscosity and its relationship to leucocytospermia

Abstract

With infertility challenges posing an obstacle to many couples, the extension of variables to assess male fertility is an important line of research. At the Reproductive Biology Unit where the study was undertaken, a considerable proportion of male patient's seeking fertility assessment presented with hyperviscous semen samples and elevated concentrations of leucocytes. Despite viscosity being included as part of a routine spermiogram, it raises a considerable amount of concern as it is assessed semiquantitatively. The study was undertaken to evaluate the quantification of semen viscosity in centipoise (cP) and to investigate whether a correlation exists between hyperviscosity and leucocytospermia. A total of 200 semen samples were assessed from a sample cohort of two population groups: 162 male patients undergoing fertility assessment and 38 volunteer donors. Semen viscosity was determined by measuring the filling time of a capillary-loaded Leja chamber and quantifying the viscosity in cP. Leucocytes were identified histochemically with a leucocyte peroxidase test. The viscosity when quantified in cP was significantly higher in the peroxidase positive sample group (9.01 ± 0.49 vs. 7.39 ± 0.23 cP; P < 0.005). The introduction of a more accurate method of quantifying viscosity may possibly help to identify, diagnose and treat patients suffering from leucocytospermia to ultimately enhance their fertility potential.

Impact of leukocytospermia on sperm dynamic motility parameters, DNA and chromosomal integrity

“…In our study, there was a statistically significant increase in semen hyperviscosity in the leukocytospermia group when compared with the non leukocytospermia group. This finding is in accordance with most previous studies reporting seminal hyperviscosity in leukocytospermia with different techniques [21, 22, 23]. Semen hyperviscosity is mostly attributed to male accessory gland infection that commonly associates leukocytospermia with inflammation, as well as dysfunction of the sex glands or even the immune system [21].…”

Oxidative Stress and Male Infertility: Evidence From a Research Perspective

“…Stimulation of these leukocytes during an accessory gland or genitourinary infections triggers a prominent increase in oxygen consumption and ROS generation (49,50), which impose OS on the engulfed pathogens as part of the defense mechanisms. In patients with genital tract infection, the presence of elevated levels of leukocytes in semen has been associated with suboptimal semen quality and impaired fertility potential (51)(52)(53)(54). Several hypotheses have been suggested to elucidate the role of leukocytospermia in enhancing the generation of ROS by human spermatozoa, but the precise molecular mechanism remains unclear.…”

KIR and HLA-C genes in male infertility

“…This can happen during urogenital infections which can often be asymptomatic. Action of pathogens themselves and activated immune processes can result in anatomical occlusions, impact the availability of diverse seminal components, impair normal gland function, and disrupt sperm viability [ 24 – 26 ]. Bacteriospermias in general, may reduce semen quality by genital tract dysfunction, impaired spermatogenesis [ 27 , 28 ].…”