IL-18 levels in the semen of male infertility: semen analysis.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between interleukin (IL)-18 levels and male infertility. Semen samples from 57 infertile and normal males were subjected to semen analysis. The pH of the semen samples from normal and abnormal groups showed no significant difference (p>0.05). However, semen volume, density, forward movement percentage, activity, survival rate, and normal morphology rate of the sperms in the normal group were significantly higher than those of the abnormal group (p<0.01). The IL-18 levels of semen in the abnormal group (810.91 pg/mL) were higher than that of the normal group (402.74 pg/mL; p<0.01). Analyses indicate that seminal fluid IL-18 positively correlates with IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Seminal IL-18 level does not affect bacterial colony count. Results indicate that IL-18 may be important in male reproduction.

• Authors: Li Qian, Yan Zhou, Chunling Du, Jiangtao Wen, Shijie Teng, Zhaolin Teng
• Journal: International journal of biological macromolecules (Int J Biol Macromol) Vol. 64 Pg. 190-2 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1879-0003 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 24333229 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Interleukin-18
• Interleukin-6
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics

• Cell Survival
• Humans
• Infertility, Male (metabolism)
• Interleukin-18 (metabolism)
• Interleukin-6 (metabolism)
• Male
• Semen (chemistry, microbiology)
• Semen Analysis
• Spermatozoa (physiology)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)