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Epididymal stereocilia in semen of infertile men: evidence of chronic epididymitis?
Author(s) -
GonzálezJiménez M. A.,
VillanuevaDíaz C. A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2006.00708.x
Subject(s) - semen , epididymitis , andrology , semen analysis , stereocilia (inner ear) , male infertility , epididymis , azoospermia , ureaplasma urealyticum , chlamydia trachomatis , ureaplasma , population , subclinical infection , biology , sperm , medicine , gynecology , infertility , mycoplasma , pathology , anatomy , surgery , inner ear , pregnancy , microbiology and biotechnology , hair cell , environmental health , genetics
Summary As free stereocilia in semen samples from infertile men could be related to a subclinical chronic infection of the seminal tract, we carried out a retrospective analysis of 14 files of infertile men with stereocilia in semen (group 1) and in two control groups: 30 infertile men from the same study population (group 2) and 40 fertile sperm donors (group 3). Clinical, bacteriological, sonographic and microscopic findings associated with these semen samples were compared. Epididymal cysts were found in two of 14 men in group 1 and in four of 28 in group 2. Positive semen cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis , Mycoplasma hominis or Ureaplasma urealyticum ( χ 2 = 8.20; P = 0.002; OR: 7.22) and varicocele ( χ 2 = 8.96; P = 0.002; OR: 2.25) were associated to the presence of free stereocilia in semen. These data suggest that a silent chronic infection of the epididymis by C. trachomatis , M. hominis , U. urealyticum and/or inflammation produced by varicocele might be the cause of stereocilia loss in the semen.