Catalyst: How are sex cells (sperm + egg) different from body cells? Reflection: Meiosis.
Effects of white blood cells and their products on sperm function
1
S 30 CELLUT~.AR IMMUNITY IN FEMALE INFERTILITY AND SPONTANEOUS ABORTION 35 J.A. HILL, Fearing Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's ~ospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA Female reproductive tissues are immunologically dynamic containing m2:~v lymphocyte and macrophage populations. Several soluble products of activnted lymphocytes (lymphokines) and macrophages (monokines) collectively termed cytokines, can adversely affect many reproductive processes, including: ~perm motility, fertilization, embryo development, implantation, and trophobla~t proliferation in vitro. Lymphocytes and macrophages residing in the reproductive tissues of many women with unexplained infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortion and endometriosis-assoclated reproductive failure can become activated by reproductive antigens (sperm, trophoblast, endometriosis) to secrete soluble factors, culminating in reproductive inefficiency. Ke~,ords: f~male reproductive failure, immune cel!~, cytoklnes $31 EFFECTS OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS AND THEIR PRODUCTS ON SPERM FUNCTION D.J. ANDERSON, Fearing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Ave. Rm 204, Boston, MA 02115 U.S.A. We have quantified and characterized white blood cell (WBC) subpopulations in semen ~rom fertile men and infertility patients. Leukocytospermla (> 1 x I0 WBC/ml) was a common finding in infertility patients (22%) and semen from this group had significantly higher mean levels of total WBC, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and macrophages, than semen from fertile men. Sperm motility parameters in semen from leukocytospermic patients were markedly lower than those of men with low WBC numbers. We have recently found that free oxygen radicals and two immunologic cytokines, gamma-interferon and tumor necrosis factor, adversely affect sperm motility in vitro. Data from our group and others also indicate that WBC products may affect sperm-egg interactions. These studies indicate that adverse effects of WBC and their soluble products on sperm may be significant factors in male and female infertility. Keywords: l~ph~kines; monokt~es; sperm
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Transcript of Effects of white blood cells and their products on sperm function
S 30
CELLUT~.AR IMMUNITY IN FEMALE INFERTILITY AND SPONTANEOUS ABORTION
35
J.A. HILL, Fearing Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's ~ospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
Female reproductive tissues are immunologically dynamic containing m2:~v lymphocyte and macrophage populations. Several soluble products of activnted lymphocytes (lymphokines) and macrophages (monokines) collectively termed cytokines, can adversely affect many reproductive processes, including: ~perm motility, fertilization, embryo development, implantation, and trophobla~t proliferation in vitro. Lymphocytes and macrophages residing in the reproductive tissues of many women with unexplained infertility, recurrent spontaneous abortion and endometriosis-assoclated reproductive failure can become activated by reproductive antigens (sperm, trophoblast, endometriosis) to secrete soluble factors, culminating in reproductive inefficiency.
Ke~,ords: f~male reproductive failure, immune cel!~, cytoklnes
$31
EFFECTS OF WHITE BLOOD CELLS AND THEIR PRODUCTS ON SPERM FUNCTION
D.J. ANDERSON, Fearing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School, 250 Longwood Ave. Rm 204, Boston, MA 02115 U.S.A.
We have quantified and characterized white blood cell (WBC) subpopulations in semen ~rom fertile men and infertility patients. Leukocytospermla (> 1 x I0 WBC/ml) was a common finding in infertility patients (22%) and semen from this group had significantly higher mean levels of total WBC, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and macrophages, than semen from fertile men. Sperm motility parameters in semen from leukocytospermic patients were markedly lower than those of men with low WBC numbers. We have recently found that free oxygen radicals and two immunologic cytokines, gamma-interferon and tumor necrosis factor, adversely affect sperm motility in vitro. Data from our group and others also indicate that WBC products may affect sperm-egg interactions. These studies indicate that adverse effects of WBC and their soluble products on sperm may be significant factors in male and female infertility.
Keywords: l ~ p h ~ k i n e s ; monokt~es; sperm
