Investigation on the relationship between leukocytes in semen and infertility

Objective:The high power microscopic examination of fresh semen sample often mistakes the spermatogenic cells as leukocytes.We here used staining method and oil lens to observe the samples carefully for confirming the leukocytes in semen and explore the relationship between the detection rate of leukocyte in semen and infertility,hopefully providing the clinic parameter.Method: The semen samples from 293 men with infertility were dyed with the wright's-Giemsa's stain and leukocytes and other types of cells detected under oil lens.Results: In 293 semen samples,136 samples(46.4%) were detected leukocyte positive and 157 samples(53.6%) negative.Leukocyte number ≤ 5 was found in most leukocyte-positive semen samples(70.6%),while leukocyte 6～20,21～40 and 40 found in 8.9%,3.4% and 1.3% of the samples respectively.In 56 males with leukocyte-positive semen,48.2%(27/56) were also detected leukocytes in their prostate fluid.Detection rate of non-spermatogenic cells in the semen was 27.3% for the prostatic epithelial cells,23.5% for phagocyte,10.8% for lymphoid,and both 8.05% for Sertoli cell and Leydig cell.The annual detection rate of leukocyte in semen in this lab was 13.8% in 1990,21.5% in 1993,34.1% in 1997 and 46.4% in 2006,showing a gradual increase. Conclusions:The leukocytes in semen of infertile men tend to increase in recent years.The presence of leukocytes in semen may contribute to the male infertility and labs should carry out detection carefully.If leukocytes in semen ≤5 under the oil lens,they may come from semen,while the men with 5 leukocytes in semen should have their prostatic fluid tested.