ANTIBIOTIC-THERAPY FOR SEMINAL INFECTION - EFFECT ON ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND T-HELPER CYTOKINES

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of antibiotic therapy on seminal infection. STUDY DESIGN: The seminal plasma of 50 men was evaluated in three groups: (1) men with seminal infection (20), (2) men with leuko cytospermia only (18), and (3) men of proven fertility (12). The evalu ation protocol included semen analysis, culture and antibiotic sensiti vity test, total antioxidant activity, alpha-tocopherol and retinol, T -helper cytokines, IL-2, IL-8, IL-4 and antisperm antibodies. RESULTS: Sperm parameters were worse with seminal infection: 25 versus 84 mill ion per milliliter for fertile men. Antioxidant activity, total alpha- tocopherol and retinol were reduced in leukocytospermia (P<.02, .01) a nd seminal infection (P<.01, .05) as compared to controls. Antisperm a ntibodies IL-2 and IL-8 were highly expressed, while IL-4 was low in m en with leukocytospermia and bacteriospermia. Gram-negative organisms were more associated with expression of T-helper 1 cytokines than T-he lper 2 cytokines. Antibiotic therapy significantly improved the sperm parameters, antioxidant activity and IL-4 but reduced IL-2 and IL-8 an d had no effect on antisperm antibody titer. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic th erapy improves sperm parameters by increasing antioxidant activity and IL-4 and by reducing IL-2 and IL-8.