HIGH-CONCENTRATION OF SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTORS IN EJACULATE WITH LOW SPERM MOTILITY

The various cytokines are involved in infection and immunological reac tions and thus may be involved in impairment of sperm function. The pr esent study determined the concentrations of interleukin-1, interleuki n-6 and soluble interleukin-2 receptors in ejaculates of normal donors and patients suffering from pure asthenozoospermia and patients suffe ring from oligoteratoasthenozoospermia. Ejaculates of patients attendi ng the fertility clinic in Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital, Israel, wer e evaluated. The patients were divided into three groups: (i) controls (n = 20), (ii) pure asthenozoospermia (n = 30), (iii) oligoteratoasth enozoospermia (n = 36). Significantly higher concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptors were found in the ejaculates of patients with pure asthenozoospermia 2243.1 +/- 473.6 mu/ml (mean +/- SE) as compar ed with controls 673.5 +/- 281.3 mu/ml (P < 0.05) and oligoteratoasthe nozoospermic patients 1012.3 +/- 206.9 mu/ml (P < 0.05). Interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 concentrations were comparable in all the groups st udied. Our results show that human ejaculates contain interleukin-1, i nterleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-2 receptors. High concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptors in the ejaculates of asthenozoosper mic patients may be related to either infectious or immunological proc esses.