Analysis of Seminal Cytokines and Sperm Motility

Song, Yun Seob; Cho, In Rae; Lee, Moo Sang

Abstract

Inflammatory white blood cells in semen is related to semen quality affecting fertility. The role of inflammatory cells on the seminal levels of various cytokines associated with inflammation and sperm motility is evaluated. Semens from 10 healthy males and 20 chronic prostatitis patients were evaluated for the levels of interleukin(IL)-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-a. Motility parameters were recorded using Hamilton-Thorne computer semen analysis system. Sperm motility parameters such as including average path velocity(VAP), straight line velocity(VSL), curvilinear velocity(VCL), lateral head displacement(ALH), beat frequency(BCF), straightness(STR), linearity(LIN), elongation and area in control and chronic prostatitis patients were 44.9+/-2.5/38.8+/-1.3(um/sec), 36.4+/-2.4/30.5+/-1.1(um/sec), 64.2+/-3.9/ 58.0+/-2.4(Fm/sec), 3.3+/-0.2/4.8+/-0.3tm), 19.8+/-3.7/13.9+/-0.3(Hz), 77.7+/-5.1/78.8+/-1.2(%), 50.6+/-17.5/53.5+/-1.9(%), 66.8+/-5.4/57.8+/-1.1(9%), 2.9+/-0.3/3.8+/-0.1(um/sec), respectively. Statistical significance was noted in VAP, VSL, ALH, BCF, elongation and area. Semen levels of IL-1a, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a in control and chronic prostatitis patients are 15.1+/-1.5/52.9+/-14.2 (pg/ml), 10.5+/-2.2/38.3+/-12.2 (pg/ml), 1.60+/-0.38/ 6.02+/-0.26 (ug/L), 11.8+/-2.5 / 21.7+/-4.0(pg/ml) statistically significant in all. For combined parameters, the correlation coefficient of IL-1a and VSL, ALH, Area were 0.40, 0.41, 0.37 respectively which were significant. The correlation coefficient of IL-8 and VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF, Elongation, Area were 0.48, 0.49, 0.39, 0.41, 0.55, 0.59, 0.66 respectively which were also significant. Seminal inflammatory cytokines are present in increased quantities if inflammatory white blood cells are present in semen and this increase might be related to sperm motility.