Clinical significance and expression of PAF and TNF-alpha in seminal plasma of leukocytospermic patients

Abstract

Objective: Discuss the changes and roles of PAF in the reproductive tract infection by observing the expression of platelet activating factor (PAF) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in seminal plasma of patients with leukocytospermia.

Methods: The seminal plasma was obtained from 22 cases of leukocytospermia and 15 cases of normal males; the peroxidase dyeing method was adopted for seminal plasma white blood count; the ELISA was adopted to test PAF and TNF-α concentration in seminal plasma.

Result: PAF concentration (2.14 ± 0.43 ng/mL) of leukocytospermia group was significantly lower than the normal group (6.21 ± 1.38 ng/mL, P < 0.01) while TNF-α (5.51 ± 1.46 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that of normal group (3.48 ± 1.08 ng/mL). There was negative correlation between PAF and TNF-α , (r = -0.68, P < 0.01); the same situation existed in PAF and WBC (r = -0.62, P < 0.01); but TNF-α was positively correlated to WBC (r = 0.77, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: (1) Low expression of PAF and high expression of TNF-α in leukocytospermia affect the sperm motility, which is one of the reasons that leads to infertility. (2) Lower expression of PAF has its particularity during the reproductive tract infection.

Figure 1

Relativity analysis of PAF and WBC count in leukocytospermia group.

Figure 2

Relativity analysis of TNF-α and PAF in leukocytospermia group.