Study on the origin of seminal leucocytes using split ejaculate technique and the effect of leucocytospermia on sperm characteristics

The origin of seminal leucocytes and their biological significance were inv estigated in 76 whole ejaculate samples and 27 split ejaculate samples, obt ained from patients attending the Zimbabwe Family Planning Council's Spilha us Infertility Clinic at Harare. The leucocytes were more prevalent in frac tions 1 and 2 than in fraction 3, implying that the testis, epididymis and prostate are the major sources of seminal leucocytes. The contribution from the seminal vesicles was minimal. An inverse relation is apparent between leucocyte count and sperm count (p < 0.01). The percentage of abnormal sper ms was higher (p < 0.05) and the sperm motility poorer in leucocytospermic samples (p < 0.01). Fructose, the seminal vesicular marker, citric acid, th e prostatic marker and alpha-glucosidase, the epididymal marker were not de creased in leucocytospermia. It is concluded that the epididymis and prosta te are the major contributors of granulocytes in semen. Leucocytospermia af fects sperm morphology and sperm motility but not the accessory sex gland f unctions. Probably these cytotoxic effects are mediated by hydrogen peroxid e due to activation of seminal leucocytes. However, the presence of leucocy tospermia in normozoo-spermic samples is indicative of the possible peacefu l coexistence of leucocytes and sperms.