Effects of seminal constituents in leucocyte migration tests on infertile couples.

Leucocyte migration tests were performed with cells from both partners of infertile couples in the presence of seminal constituents from the male partners. Leucocytes from fertile women were used as controls. Homogenized spermatozoa inhibited leucocyte migration in 36.1% of women and 20.7% of men from infertile couples and in 18.4% of control women. In all groups, occasional stimulation of leucocyte migration was observed (8.3%, 3.4% and 2.6% respectively). Although both types of changes in migration when considered together were statistically more frequent in the group of infertile women it was not possible to distinguish, on the basis of this test, between fertile and supposedly infertile individual women. It is suggested, however, that an inhibitory effect induced by spermatozoa on the men's own leucocytes may be of diagnostic significance. In contrast to spermatozoa, seminal plasma caused inhibition of leucocyte migration in the majority of cases -- 88% of women and 71.9% of men from infertile couples and 77.8% of fertile women. Those patients whose semen lacked this inhibitory property are deserving of further study.

Acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in the morphotic elements of the amniotic fluid.

Acid and alkaline phosphatases were determined histochemically in the cells of the amniotic fluid obtained from the term pregnancies. Relatively high activity of the acid phosphatase was found within macrophages, few neutrophils and some polygonal cells from the intermediate layer of stratified epithelium. Moderate activity of this enzyme was demonstrated in sheets of superficial epitheliocytes and partly cornified cells of hair. Weak activity of the alkaline phosphatase was found in superficial epithelia, in neutrophils and clumps of meconium. It is suggested that demonstration of the acid phosphatase in the morphotic elements of the amniotic fluid might possess certain diagnostic significance.