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Ureaplasma
urealyticum infection and apoptosis of spermatogenic cells
Xue-Jun
SHANG1, Yu-Feng HUANG2, Cheng-Liang XIONG1,
Jian-Ping XU2, Lai YIN2, Chang-Chun WAN2 1Center
of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical University,
Wuhan 430030, China Asian J Androl 1999 Sep; 1: 127-129 Keywords:
AbstractAim: To study the relationship between Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection and apoptosis of human spermatogenic cells. Methods: Spermatogenic cells were observed under light microscope with Wright-Giemsa staining and by means of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. Results: Apoptotic rate of UU-infected males (15.5%6.8%) was significantly higher than that of controls (5.2%2.3%). Conclusion: Apoptosis of spermatogenic cells can be caused by UU infection, which provides further evidence for UU-induced male infertility.1 Introduction Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) is a kind of prokaryotic microorganism parasitizing the male urinogenital system. It causes urinogenital tract infection and is one of the causes of male infertility. Some researches indicated that UU parasitizing in spermatogenic cells may cause the latter to fall off from the seminiferous tubules[1,2]. However, it is not clear whether there is any correlation between apoptosis and the falling off and necrosis of spermatogenic cells. The morphological staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated (TdT) deoxyuridine triphosphate(dUTP)-biotin nick-endlabeling (TUNEL) technique were used in the study to examine the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells, to determine the correlation of UU infection and apoptosis, and to clarify the mechanism of male infertility caused by UU.2 Materials and methods 2.1
Reagents and instruments Wright-Giemsa
stain solution was prepared in this Lab. UU medium was 2.2
Subjects 2.2.1
UU infection group
Thirty-five
males, Han race, average age 29 years old , urinar 2.2.2
Control group Thirty
males, Han race, average age 33 years old, urinary UU cultures were negative
in twice. They have fathered children or had their spouses
pregnant. 2.3
Preparation of semen sample and cell
The
semen sample was collected in a sterile container after 48 hours of sexual
abstinence, 2 mL of which was added onto the bottom of the tube and covere 2.4
Observation of cellular morphology
The
cell slide was stained with Wright-Giemsa
stain and was observed under microscope. 2.5
Examination of cellular apoptosis with TdT-mediated TUNEL technique
Briefly,
dUTP labeled by fluorescein is transferred to the OH of 3-end by Terminal
deoxyribonucleotide transferase, and thus apoptosis of the spermatogenic
cells can be identified with fluorescing. 2.6
Statistical analysis Results are expressed as s and analyzed by t-test. 3 Results 3.1
Microscopic examination
The
spermatogenic cells infected with UU were shrinked with karyopyknosis
and vacuoles in the plasma, and apoptotic body can be found[3].
On the contrary, there were no apoptotic cells in the control group (Figure
1A). 3.2
TUNEL technique examination
The
apoptosis rate of the UU infection group was found to be significantly
higher than that of the control group (P<0.01)(Table 1,
Figure 1B). Table
1. Apoptotic rate (means, %) of spermatogenic cells. cP<0.01
vs control.
Figure 1. (A) Normal and (B) apoptotic spermatogenic cell. 4 Discussion In
1973, Gnarpe first proposed that UU infection could be associated with
(1)
UU attaching to the surface of sperm may increase the hydrokinetic
resistance, thus slowing down the sperm movement. Meanwhile, UU may interfere
in the sperm-ovum identification and fusion if UU attaches itself to the
rear of the acrosome or the equatorial area of sperm. On
the basis of these observations and our finding that the apoptosis rate
(1)
After stimulation by UU, the testicular spermatogenic cell References [1]
Xu C, Sun GF, Xu S, Wang YF. Establishment of an anima Correspondence
to Dr. Xue-Jun SHANG.
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