CIBICI   14215
CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION EN BIOQUIMICA CLINICA E INMUNOLOGIA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Male rat genital tract infection with Chlamydia muridarum has no significant consequences on male fertility
Autor/es:
MOTRICH, RD; SANCHEZ, L; MACCIONI, M; MACKERN OBERTI, JP; RIVERO, VE
Revista:
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Editorial:
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
Referencias:
Lugar: Philadelphia; Año: 2012 vol. 187 p. 1 - 7
ISSN:
0022-5347
Resumen:
Purpose: Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the male genital tract was proposed
to alter male fertility. We studied the putative consequences of chlamydial
male genital tract infection on semen quality and male fertility in an experimental
rat model of infection.
Materials and Methods: We used 36 male and 40 female Wistar rats. Male
genital infection was created by inoculating Chlamydia muridarum in the meatal
urethra. The presence of C. muridarum was evaluated by polymerase chain
reaction in semen and male genital tract organs early (15 days) and late (80 days)
after infection. Sperm quality parameters were assayed in seminal and epididymal
sperm from sham infected and infected rats. Mating studies with sexually
mature females were performed and fertility parameters were assayed, including
potency, fecundity and fertility indexes, fetal size, and pre-implantation and
post-implantation embryo loss.
Results: Male rats showed ascending, disseminated infection 15 days after infection.
Bacteria persisted in the prostate and seminal vesicles 80 days after
infection. C. muridarum was detected in semen in most rats regardless of acute
or chronic infection. Seminal or epididymal sperm quality did not differ in
infected and sham infected rats 15 or 80 days after infection. Sperm apoptosis
was also minimal in infected rats. No differences were observed in fertility
parameters between infected and sham infected rats.
Conclusions: C. muridarum infects the rat male genital tract and persists
mainly in the prostate. Although C. muridarum was detected in semen during
acute and chronic infection, no alterations in sperm quality were observed. C.
muridarum infection does not impair male fertility.