Corelation between hyperviscosity of the ejaculate and physical-morphological and biochemical parameters

Czech version

Authors: L. Bobák ¹; J. Rosocha ¹; L. Lehocká ¹; A. Halagovec ²; M. Hrivňák ³; V. Kraus ⁴; J. Petrovičová ⁵
Authors‘ workplace: Združená tkanivová banka, Lekárska fakulta Univerzity P. J. Šafárika a FN L. Pasteura, Košice, prednosta MVDr. J. Rosocha, CSc. ¹; Klinika dermatovenerológie, LF Univerzity P. J. Šafárika a FN L. Pasteura, Košice, prednostka doc. MUDr. J. Jautová, PhD., mim. prof. ²; Oddelenie urológie, Nemocnica Šaca, a. s. ³; 1. gynekologicko-pôrodnicka klinika, LF Univerzity P. J. Šafárika a FN L. Pasteura, Košice, prednosta doc. MUDr. V. Kraus, CSc. ⁴; Ústav lekárskej informatiky, Lekárska fakulta Univerzity P. J. Šafárika, Košice, prednosta Ing. J. Majerník, PhD. ⁵
Published in: Ceska Gynekol 2009; 74(3): 219-224

Overview

Objective:
The aim of our study was to investigate the corelation between hyperviscosity and physical-morphological and biochemical parameters of the ejaculate and potential influence of local infections on spermatic plasma viscosity and observed parameters.

Design:
Retrospective analysis.

Setting:
Associated Tissue Bank of P. J. Šafárik University of Faculty of Medicine and L. Pasteur Faculty Hospital, Košice, Slovak Republic.

Methods:
The study was based on semen samples showing increased viscosity obtained from 100 consecutive men undergoing fertility assessment (median 35 years, range 27–49 years) in Associated Tissue Bank between years 1996 and 2006. The ejaculates were obtained by masturbation after 2–7 days of sexual abstinence (median 5 days).

Results:
Increased viscosity correlated with lower motility and increased pathology (95% and 91%, respectively). Within the diagnosis of asthenozoospermia there was a correlation between PMN (polymorphonuclear granulocytes) (95%), higher seminal fluid pH (94%), decreased sperm vitality (100%), decreased total seminal plasma fructose (100%) and positive microbiology (95%).

There was significant positive correlation between high visco-elasticity and positive microbiology (85%), although a leukocytospermia (>1 x 106/mL) was present just in 10% of the semen samples.

Conclusion:
Hyper-visco-elasticity is simple but important parameter of men fertility assessment and is associated with the diagnosis of asthenoteratozoospermia. It is suggested from our patient data that decrease of the leukocytospermia cutoff criteria could detect a chronic and/or latent infection of the urogenital tract. Furthermore, combination of the diagnoses of viscopathy and asthenoteratozoospermia seems as potential marker and indication, respectively, for microbiology examination.

Key words:
hyperviscosity of ejaculate, asthenoteratozoospermia, urogenital infections.

Sources

1. Comhaire, FH., Mahmoud, AM., Depuydt, CE., et al. Mechanisms a effects of male genital tract infection on sperm quality and fertilizing potential: the andrologist’s viewpoint. Hum Reprod, 1999, 5, p. 393-398.

2. WHO laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and sperm-cervical mucus interaction. Cambridge University Press, 1999.

3. Caprino, A., Siciliano, L. Unaltered prtein pattern/genital trect secretion marker levels in seminal plasma of highly viscous human ejaculates. Arch Androl, 1998, 41, p.31-35.

4. Dube, JY., Gaudreault, D., Trembly, RR. The concentration of immunoreactive prostate specific antigen is not decreased in viscous semen samples. Andrologia, 1989, 21, p. 136-139.

5. Lilja, H. A kallikrein-like serine protease in prostatic fluid cleaves the predominant seminal vesicle protein. J Clin Investigation, 1985, 76, p. 1899-1903.

6. Mann, T. Fructose, polyols, and organic acids. In: The Biochemistry of Semen and of the Male Reprodictive Tract. (ed. T. Nam). London: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1964.

7. Gomzalesa, GF., Kortebani, G., Mazzolli, AB. Hyperviscosity and hypo-function of the seminal vesicles. Arch Androl, 1993, 30, p. 63-68.

8. Siciliano, L., Tarantino, P., Longobardi, F., et al. Impaired seminal antioxidant capacity in human semen with hyperviscosity or oligoasthenozoospermia. J Androl, 2001, 22, p. 798-803.

9. Everaert, K., Mahmoud, C., Depuydt, C., et al. Chronic prostatitis and male accessory gland infection – is there an impact on male infertility (diagnosis and therapy). Andrologia, 2003, 35, 5, p. 325.

10. Ming-Chung, L., Tsong-Chang, T., Yu-Shih, Y. Measurement of viscosity of the human semen with a rotational viscometer. J Formosan Med Assoc, 1992, 91, p. 419-423.

11. Gopalkrishnan, K., Padwal, V., Balaiah, D. Does seminal fluid viscosity influence sperm chromatin integrity? Arch Androl, 2000, 45, p. 99-103.

12. Gersh, I. Pancreatic dornase for liquefaction of viscid human semen. Fertil Steril, 1970, 21, p. 147-150.

13. Elzanaty, S., Malm, J., Giwercman, A. Visco-elasticity of seminal fluid in relation to the epididymal and accessory sex gland function and its impact an sperm motility. Intern J Androl, 2004, 27, p. 94-100.

14. Sobek, A., Hrbková, K. Hodnocení morfologie spermií „striktní“ metodou. Čes Gynek, 1996, 61, 2, s. 91-95.

15. Menkveld, R., Oettlé, EE., Kruger, TF., et al. Atlas of Human Sperm Morphology. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, USA 1991, 121 s.

16. MacLeoda, R. (1952) (cit. Menkveld, R., Oettlé, EE., Kruger, TF., et al. Atlas of Human Sperm Morphology. Baltimore, USA: Williams and Wilkins, 1991, 121 s.

17. Eliasona, R. (1971), cit. Menkveld, R., Oettlé, EE., Kruger, TF., et al. Atlas of Human Sperm Morphology. Baltimore, USA: Williams and Wilkins, 1991, 121 s.

18. McKenna, JG., Young, H., Moyes, A., Smith, IW. Is coexisting chlamydial infection more common in gonococcal infections with serogroup WI? Int J STD AIDS, 1990, 1, p. 340-342.

19. Halagovec, A., Kraus, V., Bobák, L., et al. Urogenitálna chlamýdiová infekcia. Orbis Medicinae, 2008, IX, 1, 1, 82 s.

20. Krause, W. Andrologia, 2008, 40, 2, p. 113-116.

21. Šuk, K., Marešová, H. Nespecifická vaginóza či kolpitis chronica? Prakt Gynek, 2004, 11, 4, s. 178-180.

22. Mašata, J., Řezáčová, J., Sodja, I., Drbohlav, P. Chlamydia trachomatis – epidemiologická situace. Čes Gynek, 1998, 63, 3, s. 217-220.

23. Taylor-Robinson, D. Evaluation and comparison of tests to diagnose Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection. Hum Reprod, 1997, 12, p. 113-120.

24. Řezáčková, J., Mašata, J., Přibylová, M., Dražďáková, M. Naše zkušenosti s vyšetřováním a léčbou mužů s poruchou plodnosti způsobenou chlamydiovou infekcí. Čes Gynek, 2001, 66, 2, s. 113-116.

25. Witkin, SS., Kligman, I., Bongiovanni, AM. Relation between an asymptomatic male genital tract exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis and an autoimmune response to spermatozoa. Hum Reprod, 1995, 10, p. 2952-2955.

26. Pospíšil, L., Čanderle, J., Medková, Z., et al. Protilátky proti tepelnému šoku chlamydií (cHSP 60) v krevním séru a semenné plazmě mužů (partnerů žen v subfertilních párech, dárců semene a dárců krve). Derma, 2003, III., 4, s. 4-8.

27. Förstl, M., Štěpánová, V., Buchta, V., et al. Chlamýdiové infekce urogenitálního systému – využití přímé imunofluorescence v diagnostice Chlamydia trachomatis ve východočeském regionu České republiky v letech 1997-2003. Čes Gynek, 2005, 70, 2, s 128-133.