The presence of bacteria species in semen and sperm quality.

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 sig

SUBMITTER: Moretti E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2649329 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature