Aim： To study the influence of enterococci on human sperm membrane in vitro. Methods： Ejaculated human sperm were artificially infected with β-hemolytic or non-β-hemolytic enterococci at the bacteria： sperm ratio...Aim： To study the influence of enterococci on human sperm membrane in vitro. Methods： Ejaculated human sperm were artificially infected with β-hemolytic or non-β-hemolytic enterococci at the bacteria： sperm ratio of 50：1 at 37℃. Sperm membrane integrity was examined after incubation for 1, 3 and 5 h by hypoosmotic swelling （HOS） test and electron microscopy. Results： Sperm infected with β-hemolytic enterococci had lower HOS scores compared with non-β-hemolytic strains or uninfected control （P 〈 0.01）. The HOS test scores of sperm infected with β-hemolytic enterococci increased in the presence of phosphatidylcholine, an inhibitor of hemolysin. Non-β-hemolytic strains showed no significant difference in swelling rate, compared with the control group （P 〉 0.05）. It was shown by electron microscopy that β-hemolytic enterococci caused significant rupture of human sperm membrane. Conclusion： β-hemolytic enterococci caused human sperm membrane injury, and might be mediated by the hemolysin of enterococci.展开更多
基金Acknowledgment This work was supported by grants from Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, China （No. C0510008） and Science ＆ Technology Development Plan of Fujian Province, China （No. C0101080）.
文摘Aim： To study the influence of enterococci on human sperm membrane in vitro. Methods： Ejaculated human sperm were artificially infected with β-hemolytic or non-β-hemolytic enterococci at the bacteria： sperm ratio of 50：1 at 37℃. Sperm membrane integrity was examined after incubation for 1, 3 and 5 h by hypoosmotic swelling （HOS） test and electron microscopy. Results： Sperm infected with β-hemolytic enterococci had lower HOS scores compared with non-β-hemolytic strains or uninfected control （P 〈 0.01）. The HOS test scores of sperm infected with β-hemolytic enterococci increased in the presence of phosphatidylcholine, an inhibitor of hemolysin. Non-β-hemolytic strains showed no significant difference in swelling rate, compared with the control group （P 〉 0.05）. It was shown by electron microscopy that β-hemolytic enterococci caused significant rupture of human sperm membrane. Conclusion： β-hemolytic enterococci caused human sperm membrane injury, and might be mediated by the hemolysin of enterococci.
