Effects of disease stage and zidovudine therapy on the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in semen

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and temporal expression of infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the semen of HIV-1 seropositive men and to determine whether the detection of HIV-1 in semen is associated with disease stage, zidovudine treatment status, or other clinical factors.

DESIGN

A microculture technique was used to detect infectious HIV-1 in semen from a cohort of 95 seropositive men. In addition, semen cultures were performed monthly for at least 6 months for 14 of the men. Information was obtained by interview and extracted from medical records to identify clinical variables associated with HIV-1 in semen.

PATIENTS

Sixty HIV-1 seropositive homosexual men participating in clinical studies at the Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, Mass, and 35 HIV seropositive bisexual or heterosexual men participating in the California Partner Study of the University of California, San Francisco.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Semen HIV-1 culture results, seminal leukocyte counts, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) disease stage, peripheral CD4+ cell counts, zidovudine therapy, HIV risk category.

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional study, HIV-1 was cultured from the semen of nine (9%) of 95 men. Factors associated with detection of HIV-1 in semen were peripheral CD4+ cell counts of 0.20 x 10(9)/L (200/microL) or less (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 23.33; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 2.89 to 175.63); symptomatic (CDC class IV) disease (adjusted OR, 6.56; 95% Cl, 1.02 to 66.76); and seminal leukocytosis (greater than 1 x 10(9) white blood cells per liter of semen) (adjusted OR, 7.02; 95% Cl, 1.28 to 39.29). Zidovudine therapy was associated with decreased detection of HIV-1 in semen (adjusted OR, 0.04; 95% Cl, 0.00 to 0.63). In the longitudinal study of 14 men who had neither peripheral CD4+ cells counts of 0.20 x 10(9)/L or less nor seminal leukocytosis, seminal HIV-1 was detected in at least one sample from six men (43%).

CONCLUSION

HIV-1 is more commonly found in semen from men with advanced HIV-1 infection and seminal leukocytosis but can also be cultured from semen of men with neither of these conditions. Zidovudine therapy may decrease the prevalence and/or titer of seminal HIV-1. However, all HIV-1-infected persons should continue to assume that they are potentially infectious through sexual contact.

Leukocytospermia is associated with poor semen quality

Semen samples from 179 infertility patients were analyzed for type and number of white blood cells (WBC) by a combination of immunologic techniques. Forty-one (23%) had more than 10(6) WBC/mL semen (leukocytospermia). Semen parameters in patients with less than 10(6) WBC/mL were similar to those of 15 fertile donors. In contrast, the leukocytospermic group had significant reductions in total sperm number, percent sperm motility, sperm velocity, motility index, and total number of motile sperm. Patients with high concentrations of monocytes/macrophages (greater than 5 X 10(5)/mL; n = 27) had significantly reduced ejaculate volume; patients with high numbers of T lymphocytes (greater than 10(5)/mL; n = 19) had a significant reduction in sperm velocity; and patients with high levels of granulocyte elastase in semen (greater than 1,000 ng/mL; n = 26) had significant reductions in ejaculate volume, total sperm number, and total motile sperm number. There was no correlation between the presence of antisperm antibodies and leukocytospermia. Our data suggest that leukocytospermia may occur frequently in male infertility patients and show that elevated levels of WBC in semen are associated with poor semen quality. This provides further rationale for white blood cell testing in semen of male infertility patients, since antibiotic or anti-inflammatory therapy may be helpful in appropriately selected cases.

TfmLac: a second isolation of testicular feminization in mice

TfmLac, a new occurrence of the X-linked mutation testicular feminization, has been isolated in a stock of mice and mapped to the same region as the original TfmH mutation. We compared these two mutants to determine if there are differences in their putative residual androgen receptors or androgen responsiveness. Such differences have been reported for Tfm mutations in humans. We found no evidence for induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in TfmLac despite androgen treatment for up to 3 weeks. This is in agreement with findings for TfmH. Both of these mutants expressed small amounts of androgen binding activity which shared some properties with the normal androgen receptors in mouse kidney. The binding was distinguishable between the two mutants, however, as determined by hormone saturation experiments utilizing DNA-cellulose chromatography. These findings confirm the independence of the two mutations and are consistent with their being allelic: both result in severe deficits of androgen binding and response.

Effects of soluble products of activated lymphocytes and macrophages (lymphokines and monokines) on human sperm motion parameters

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of supernatants from activated leukocyte cultures and purified lymphokine and monokine preparations on sperm motion. An automated semen analyzer was used to obtain accurate measurements of several parameters of sperm motion. Supernatants from activated peripheral blood leukocyte cultures significantly decreased sperm motility. In studies of effects of individual lymphokines and monokines, significant antimotility effects were observed when spermatozoa were incubated with the lymphokine gamma-interferon and the monokine tumor necrosis factor. Subnormal fertility may result from defective sperm function caused by lymphokines and monokines elaborated by activated lymphocytes and macrophages residing in the reproductive tracts of infertile men and women.

Growth hormone-secretory patterns in androgen-resistant (testicular feminized) rats

To investigate the role of androgen receptors in the expression of the male GH-secretory pattern in adult rats, the GH-secretory patterns in androgen-resistant (testicular feminized) rats were compared with their normal male and female littermates. All animals were prepared with intraatrial Silastic catheters and bled every 15 min for 8 h (0800-1600 h). Normal male littermates displayed a characteristic low frequency, high amplitude pattern of GH secretion with bursts of GH occurring every 2.5-3 h and separated by prolonged trough periods where GH values remained low or undetectable (less than 5 ng/ml) for 45-90 min. Normal female littermates showed a characteristic high frequency, low amplitude pattern of GH secretion with pulses of GH occurring every hour. Compared to normal male littermates, females had lower individual GH peak amplitudes and shortened GH-trough periods which contain higher GH levels. GH-secretory profiles displayed by testicular-feminized animals qualitatively and quantitatively resembled those of the normal female littermates. These data suggest that androgen receptors are necessary for the expression of masculine GH-secretory patterns.

Androgen and estrogen receptors in adult zebra finch brain

Androgens and estrogens have been implicated in the activation of a variety of sexually-dimorphic, hormone-dependent behaviors in the adult zebra finch. In the present report, several biochemical characteristics of two putative sex steroid receptors, androgen- and estrogen-binding activities, were determined by DNA-cellulose chromatography in brain tissues from these birds. High-affinity, limited-capacity receptors for androgens and estrogens were found in cytosolic extracts of telencephalon, diencephalon-mesencephalon, and metencephalon-myelencephalon from adult male and female zebra finches. Androgen-binding activity reproducibly adhered to DNA-cellulose and was eluted within the 110-150 mM NaCl region of a linear salt concentration gradient. Estrogen receptors adhered to DNA-cellulose and exhibited elution maxima between 170 mM and 210 mM NaCl. Collectively these data indicate that brain regions of zebra finches contain steroid receptors that are similar to those found in the brains of other vertebrates and that their biochemical properties are similar in males and females. Quantitatively, males consistently exhibited higher androgen binding than females in both anterior and posterior telencephalic areas. Females treated with estradiol immediately after hatching exhibited adult levels of androgen binding corresponding to those detected in males. Masculinization of the androgen receptor system by early steroid exposure is discussed.

Postnatal ACTH and corticosterone: effects on reproduction in mice

At birth, male and female mice were selected at random and injected subcutaneously with either 1 IU ACTH/0.05 ml saline, 0.5 IU ACTH/0.05 ml saline, 300 micrograms corticosterone acetate/0.05 steroid suspending vehicle or 0.05 ml saline vehicle alone on Postpartum Days 1 through 3. ACTH (0.5 IU) significantly lengthened the estrus cycle of female progeny and reduced the weights of litters born to them. Corticosterone significantly reduced the proportion of females inseminated as well as the proportion giving birth. Corticosterone also reduced one parameter of sexual receptivity. Both ACTH (1 IU) and corticosterone significantly increased some masculine copulatory behaviors in male offspring in adulthood. Thus neonatal administration of glucocorticoids and ACTH may disrupt normal development of reproductive functioning in male and female mice.

Prenatal ACTH and corticosterone: effects on reproduction in male mice

Injections of ACTH or corticosterone into late pregnant mice from Days 14 to 21 did not alter testes weights or feminine copulatory behavior of male offspring in adulthood. However masculine copulatory behavior was significantly reduced. Because ACTH does not cross the placenta, alterations in sexual behavior of male offspring were probably mediated by maternal corticosteroid secretion.

Effects of prenatal stress on reproduction in male and female mice

Pregnant mice were exposed to heat-restraint stress from Days 14 through 21 of gestation. Feminine receptivity quotients were significantly higher in prenatally-stressed male offspring than in unhandled males; however there were no differences in testes weights or masculine copulatory behavior. Prenatally stressed females exhibited vaginal opening at a later date, had longer estrus cycles and higher median quality receptivity scores than unhandled controls. Prenatal stress had no profound effects on pregnancy, parturition or survival of young. However there was a significantly smaller proportion of parturient postnatally stressed females compared to unhandled controls.

Residual androgen binding in testicular feminization (TFM)

Most mutants with genetic androgen-resistance possess some level of androgen binding which exhibits properties of receptors. The present studies aim to determine whether the androgen binding activities in mutants are, or are related to, receptors. This binding portion is termed residual androgen receptors. We have examined several androgen-resistance mutants with testicular feminization (TFM). Putative androgen receptors from mice, rats, and humans with TFM have been compared, and at least three different types of residual receptors have been observed. They are discussed in relation to possible receptor defects and to differences in the nature of androgen-resistance associated with each of them.

Effects of prenatal stress on the estrous cycle of female offspring as adults

Stress during gestation significantly increased estrous cycle length in female offspring as adults, primarily by lengthening the estrus-metestrus stage. Therefore, prenatal stress may disturb the hormonal milieu of the female fetus during a critical hypothalamic differentiation stage.