Transmission of HIV-1 by donor semen

Stewart, Graeme J.; Downie, Jean C.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91457-9

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Infected germ cells released from the testis could be involved in sexual transmission of the infection, beginning with the early stages of the disease. The presence of spermatozoa harboring HIV-1 proviral DNA in their nuclei must be considered in relation to the problem of HIV-1 transmission by donor semen (65)(66)(67)(68).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Presence and cellular distribution of HIV in the testes of seropositive subjects: an evaluation by in situ PCR hybridization

Muciaccia¹,

Uccini

Filippini

et al. 1998

FASEB j.

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Cellular distribution of HIV-1 proviral DNA has been studied, by in situ PCR hybridization, in the testes of infected men who died at various stages of the disease. In seropositive asymptomatic subjects, HIV-1 proviral DNA was present in the nuclei of germ cells at all stages of their differentiation. The presence of provirus did not induce germ cell damage, was associated with normal spermatogenesis, and was not accompanied by morphologic signs of immune response. The observed HIV hybridization pattern of germ cells suggests clonal infection. Mechanisms responsible for HIV penetration in testicular germ cells remain to be clarified; however, the possibility of a direct infection of the germ cells by cell-free virus is suggested. In the testes of AIDS-deceased men, histologic features of hypoplasia with arrested spermatogenesis were evident, and few infected spermatogonia and spermatocytes were observed. The whole of these data demonstrates that the testis is a site of early viral localization that fails to elicit an immunological response, and that HIV-seropositive men produce infected spermatozoa that are released in the genital tract.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%