Evaluation of 'round cells' in semen analysis: a comparative study

The aims of this review are to evaluate the morphological differences betwe en 'round cells' of spermatogenic and non-spermatogenic origin in semen. Th e latter group includes inflammatory cells like neutrophils, lymphocytes, a nd macrophages, and epithelial cells. A comparison was made between non-spe rmatogenic cells in semen samples and inflammatory cells in blood smears, u sing various staining procedures commonly used in routine andrology laborat ories. The result presented in this review confirmed previously published d ata. In blood smears as well as in semen samples, only neutrophil leukocyte s (both eosinophilic and basophilic) showed a positive reaction when expose d to the peroxidase stain. Lymphocytes, macrophages and other 'round cells' such as epithelial cells and spermatogenesis cells remained negative. It c ould be concluded that the neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes were the only 'round cells' showing a positive reaction in the semen samples. The p resence of specifically stained neutrophils in semen was considered to be c ompatible with an infection and/or a subsequent inflammatory reaction in th e male genital tract. The potential influence of inflammatory cells in the sperm samples on infertility/subfertility is discussed. However, the questi on of determining if morphologically abnormal, degenerated spermatids are s till capable of fertilizing an oocyte in vitro is not addressed in this rev iew.