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The presence of bacteria species in semen and sperm quality

  • ANDROLOGY
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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To verify the prevalence of semen bacterial contamination and whether the contamination could decrease sperm quality.

Methods

Spermiogram, semen culture, and sperm transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis were performed. TEM data were elaborated using a mathematical formula that calculates a fertility index (FI)—able to define patients as fertile or infertile—and the percentage of sperm apoptosis, immaturity and necrosis. We aligned the amino acid sequence of beta-tubulin with protein of the most frequent species isolated from semen.

Results

Patients were divided according to the contaminating species; in each group, we observed fertile individuals, in whom the semen quality was similar to that of controls and infertile men whose sperm quality was significantly decreased, in terms of motility, FI, apoptosis and necrosis. Partial homology between β-tubulin and bacterial proteins was observed.

Conclusion

Sperm bacterial contamination is quite frequent and could contribute to the deterioration of the sperm quality of infertile men.

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Acknowledgements

Research supported by Piano di Ateneo per la Ricerca (PAR) grant of University of Siena, 2005 (G.C.), 2006 (N.F.), Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Biology Section, Interdepartmental Centre for Research and Therapy of Male Infertility, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Viale Bracci, 14, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Elena Moretti, Maria Grazia Federico, Valentina Giannerini & Giulia Collodel

  2. Department of Physiopathology, Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Serena Capitani & Andrea Pammolli

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

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  1. Elena Moretti
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  2. Serena Capitani
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  3. Natale Figura
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  4. Andrea Pammolli
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  5. Maria Grazia Federico
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  6. Valentina Giannerini
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  7. Giulia Collodel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giulia Collodel.

Additional information

Capsule the presence of bacteria in semen may decrease sperm motility and increase apoptosis and necrosis particularly in infertile men.

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Moretti, E., Capitani, S., Figura, N. et al. The presence of bacteria species in semen and sperm quality. J Assist Reprod Genet 26, 47–56 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9283-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9283-5

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