Seminal leukocyte concentration and related specific reactive oxygen species production in patients with male accessory gland infections

The aim of this study was to determine whether differences occur in seminal concentrations of white blood corpuscles (sWBC) and whether WBC production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is related to the infiltration of one or more male sexual glands. We studied 70 infertile patients affected by bacterial male accessory gland infections (MAGI) who were divided clinically and, by ultrasound (US), into four well-characterized, aged-matched groups. Three of the groups presented an abnormal US scan (MAGI US+ groups): group P with prostatitis alone (n = 15), group PV with prostato-vesiculitis (n = 19), and group PVE with prostato-vesiculo-epididymitis (n = 22). The fourth group presented with a normal US scan (MAGI US- group) and was diagnosed with presumptive MAGI according to laboratory criteria (n = 14). In addition, 20 fertile males acted as controls. All patients underwent seminal and microbiological analyses as well as US scans. In addition, the WBC concentrations of whole semen and the WBC-rich 45% Percoll fraction (Pf45) as well as WBC-specific ROS production in the same sperm fraction were analysed. Semen samples from the PVE patient group exhibited significantly (P < 0.01) lower values of sperm parameters than those obtained from P, PV, MAGI US- and the control groups. The sWBC and Pf45 WBC concentration as well as baseline and fMLP-stimulated ROS counts in each MAGI US+ group were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those found in the MAGI US- group and controls.