SEMEN LEUKOCYTES - FRIENDS OR FOES

Objective: To test the hypothesis that male reproductive tract leukocy tes function in the elimination of abnormal spermatozoa from ejaculate d semen. Design: Semen specimens with greater than or equal to 2 x 10( 6) nonspermatozoal cells/mL were examined for leukocytes and for matur e sperm with ideal morphology. Setting: Andrology laboratory of a Cent er of Assisted Reproductive Technology.Results: Semen specimens with e levated concentrations of leukocytes contained a significantly higher frequency of sperm with ideal morphology than semen specimens with ele vated numbers of immature germ cells and low numbers of leukocytes. Co nclusions: The direct correlation between leukocyte density and sperm with ideal morphology supports the concept that sperm surveillance is a normal function of male reproductive tract leukocytes. Understanding such germ cell-leukocyte interactions may provide valuable new insigh ts into immunologic control mechanisms in male reproductive tract tiss ues.