Spermatozoal Immobilization Factor From Staphylococcus Aureus: Receptor-Specific Interaction

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: Fertility
Article Date: 29 Jun 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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ORLANDO, FL (UroToday.com) - The authors note that there are receptors on the surface of spermatozoa that leads to interaction with various microorganisms in male and female genital tract. These receptors may be important factor in the he ability of spermatozoa to be agglutinated and immobilized by different species of bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the dominant flora in male and female genitalia and can decrease sperm motility.

This study was undertaken to investigate the presence of receptor on human spermatozoa for the ligand ,sperm immobilization factor(SIF) excreted extracellularly by S. aureus. SEM studies were done to evaluate the influence of SIF on morphological structure of spermatozoa. The SIF of 20 k Da molecular weight was isolated from S aureus culture and causes 100% immobilization at protein concentration as low as 150 μg/ ml.

SIF caused multiple defects in the head, neck and tail region of spermatozoa. The sperm receptor was found to be 62 kDa protein. SEM studies revealed that the binding took place between receptor and ligand that waives the activity of ligand and is responsible for multiple defects in head, tail and middle-piece. Editorial comment: This study would appear to indicate that morphologic abnormalities are inducible by exogenous factors and may not always be the result of abnormal spermatogenesis. THIS POSTER WAS AWARDED BEST POSTER OF SESSION PRIZE.

Presented by Navchetan Mann, MD, V Prabha, MD, Shrawan K Singh, MD, Naveen C Acharya, MD, Tanushree Gupta, MD, and P Dayal, MD at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) - May 17 - 22, 2008. Orange County Convention Center - Orlando, Florida, USA.

Reported by UroToday.com Contributing Editor Harris M. Nagler, MD

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