Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2009-1-15
pubmed:abstractText
Increased numbers of mast cells (MCs) in the testis have been associated with testicular dysfunction, where accumulation of MCs occurs. Furthermore, it has been reported that MCs might affect sperm function as it has been demonstrated that MC-derived tryptase in the seminal fluid might reduce sperm motility. Although MCs have been detected in rat epididymis, only little is known about the presence of MCs in human seminal plasma. Thus, we analysed MC numbers in the ejaculate of men during routine semen analysis of male patients suspected for infertility (n = 100). MCs were detected by c-kit (CD117) expression using flow cytometry. Thereby, we detected significant numbers of MCs in the ejaculate of most patients (559 +/- 525 MCs ml(-1), mean +/- SD). However, we could neither detect a correlation with respect to MCs and sperm count, motility or morphology nor to the seminal inflammatory markers like polymorphonuclear elastase. Nevertheless, a significant correlation of MCs to spermatozoa-bound IgA (r = 0.5; P = 0.03; n = 21) was observed. It is concluded that significant numbers of MCs can be detected in the human ejaculate without necessarily influencing sperm function. A potential role of MCs in seminal plasma as well as the association between MCs and IgA on spermatozoa remains to be elucidated.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
1439-0271
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
41
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1-6
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
Mast cells in the seminal plasma of infertile men as detected by flow cytometry.
pubmed:affiliation
Andrology Unit, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany. jean-pierre.allam@ukb.uni-bonn.de
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article