CYTOKINE LEVELS IN THE SEMINAL PLASMA OF INFERTILE MALES

Cytokines released by various cell subsets in the male urogenital trac t are capable of markedly influencing sperm function and fertility. We determined the cytokine content in the seminal plasma of patients wit h unexplained infertility and correlated the results with urogenital i nfections and sperm parameters. Routine sperm parameters, bacterial cu lture of seminal plasma and blood follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone were obtained from 14 infer tile males and 8 healthy control subjects. Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 be ta), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) levels in the seminal plasma were measured by enzyme-linked immunosor bent assay (ELISA). IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha levels in the semin al plasma were negatively correlated with the number of progressively motile sperm, but there was no correlation with total sperm counts, vi ability, pH, morphological alterations, type of abnormality, and hormo ne parameters. Cytokine levels were significantly elevated in seminal plasma exhibiting bacterial or mycoplasmal infections of the urogenita l tract. Urogenital infections lead to an release of inflammatory cyto kines, most probably by immunocompetent cells of the lymphocyte/macrop hage origin. Cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and/or TNF alpha might infl uence sperm motility via direct or indirect effects, resulting in redu ced mucosa penetration properties. Therefore, our data suggest that cy tokines may be involved in reduced male fertility.