Influence of enterococci on human sperm membrane in vitro / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the influence of enterococci on human sperm membrane in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ejaculated human sperm were artificially infected with beta-hemolytic or non-beta-hemolytic enterococci at the bacteria sperm ratio of 501 at 37 degrees . Sperm membrane integrity was examined after incubation for 1, 3 and 5 h by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test and electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sperm infected with beta-hemolytic enterococci had lower HOS scores compared with non-beta-hemolytic strains or uninfected control (P < 0.01). The HOS test scores of sperm infected with beta-hemolytic enterococci increased in the presence of phosphatidylcholine, an inhibitor of hemolysin. Non-beta-hemolytic strains showed no significant difference in swelling rate, compared with the control group (P > 0.05). It was shown by electron microscopy that beta-hemolytic enterococci caused significant rupture of human sperm membrane.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Beta-hemolytic enterococci caused human sperm membrane injury, and might be mediated by the hemolysin of enterococci.</p>