Does leukocytospermia associate with poor semen parameters and sperm functions in male infertility? The role of different seminal leukocyte concentrations

To investigate the effect of leukocytospermia on standard semen analysis an d sperm function tests such as acrosome reaction, hypoosmotic swelling, ant isperm antibody binding and cervical mucus penetration, a prospective clini cal study was performed. Two hundred and nineteen male infertility patients undergoing investigation and treatment were included in the study. There w as a significant association between acrosome reaction positivity and leuko cytospermia according to WHO (World Health Organization) criteria. Increase d hypoosmotic swelling test score, higher sperm concentration and enhanced acrosome reaction were closely related to leukocytospermia. When the patien ts were divided into subgroups according to seminal leukocyte concentration s, acrosome reaction and hypoosmotic swelling were observed to be higher in semen samples with higher leukocyte concentrations compared to those with low seminal leukocyte concentration. In addition, higher sperm concentratio ns were observed in semen samples with increased leukocyte levels compared to semen samples with low leukocyte levels. These results suggest that leuk ocytospermia may have a favorable effect on some sperm functions at seminal leukocyte concentrations between 1 and 3 x 10(6)/ml. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.