Urogenital infection and sperm motility

• Published in: Andrologia Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 283 - 287
• Main Authors: Diemer, T., Huwe, P., Ludwig, M., Hauck, E. W., Weidner, W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Germany Blackwell Verlag GmbH 01.10.2003
• Subjects: Cytokines white blood cells; ejaculate infection; MAGI; male infertility; sperm motility
• ISSN: 0303-4569; 1439-0272
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0272.2003.00556.x

Male accessory sex gland infections are considered as potential hazards to male fertility. Various pathophysiological concepts have evolved from experimental and clinical studies that begin to explain the effects of bacteria and immunological events on the function of spermatozoa and sperm motility in particular. Besides direct influences of pathogenic bacteria on spermatozoa whose impact on the motility of human spermatozoa is reviewed herein, recent studies have identified and evaluated infectious mediators that appear to be responsible for specific molecular processes in infections that particularly affect the motility of spermatozoa. This review will focus in detail on direct bacterial effects of sperm motility, the role of seminal leucocytes and the impact of pro‐inflammatory cytokines on the motility of spermatozoa.