OBJECTIVETo observe changes in the concentrations of MIP-1alpha and TNF-alpha and their influence on sperm in the seminal plasma of infertile males.

METHODSWe measured the concentrations of MIP-1alpha and TNF-alpha in the seminal plasma of 110 infertile patients and 30 normal fertile men by ELISA and radioimmunoassay, and compared them with sperm concentration, sperm viability, sperm motility, leukocytospermia and serum anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb).

RESULTSThe infertility group, particularly the oligospermia cases, showed significantly higher concentrations of MIP-1alpha and TNF-alpha in the seminal plasma ([179.45 +/- 24.54] pg/ml and [4.66 +/- 2.01] ng/ml) than the normal fertile men ([89.64 +/- 13.27] pg/ml and [2.90 +/- 1.23] ng/ml) (P < 0.01). In comparison, the concentrations of MIP-1alpha and TNF-alpha were (196.04 +/- 23.54) pg/ml and (5.31 +/- 2.47) ng/ml versus (154.22 +/- 26.38) pg/ml and (3.94 +/- 2.09) ng/ml in the poor and normal sperm viability groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), (210.39 +/- 21.43) pg/ml and (5.14 +/- 2.61) ng/ml versus (139.87 +/- 27.62) pg/ml and (4.11 +/- 2.26) ng/ml in the low and normal sperm motility groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), (203.14 +/- 24.65) pg/ml and (5.28 +/- 2.66) ng/ml versus (155.76 +/- 21.42) pg/ml and (4.04 +/- 2.24) ng/ml in the leukocytospermia and non-leukocytospermia groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and (234.05 +/- 27.60) pg/ml and (5.63 +/- 2.31) ng/ml versus (124.85 +/- 23.56) pg/ml and (3.69 +/- 2.15) ng/ml in the serum AsAb positive and negative groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), most significantly increased in the serum AsAb positive group.

CONCLUSIONThe concentrations of MIP-1alpha and TNF-alpha in the seminal plasma are closely related with sperm count and function, and their detection helps to assess the severity of male infertility and improve its clinical treatment.