Effect of Cytokines on Sperm Motility and Ionophore—Stimulated Acrosome Reaction

Abstract

The effects of soluble products from leukocytes (WBC) on sperm motility and calcium ionophore stimulated acrosome reaction (AR) were examined. Supernatants of mononuclear WBC, isolated from peripheral blood and stimulated by the lectins Phytolacca americana (pokeweed mitogen) or concanavalin A, caused a weak but significant inhibition of progressive sperm motility. The recombinant cytokine interferon–γ (IFN-γ) in high concentrations inhibited motility of sperm from 5 of 8 donors tested. The recombinant cytokines tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) did not show any effect on sperm motility. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by stimulation of polymorphonuclear WBC with a phorbol ester (PMA) tended to inhibit sperm motility. Neither supernatants from lectin-stimulated mononuclear WBC, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-8, nor ROS showed any significant effect on the ionophore-challenged AR.