Ann Infertil Reprod Endocrinol | Volume 1, Issue 2 | Case Report | Open Access
Kalpana Rana and Vijay Prabha*
Department of Microbiology, Panjab University, India
*Correspondance to: Vijay Prabha
Fulltext PDFEscherichia coli, probably the most frequently isolated microorganism from male genitourinary tract, have been widely recognized to cause detrimental effects on spermatozoa in vitro. However, its in vivo association with male infertility has not yet been resolved. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of spermagglutinating E. coli on reproductive potential of male mice. Male BALB/c mice were divided into two groups: Group I receiving PBS and group II, single dose of 108 cfu of E. coli in the right vas deferens. The animals were euthanized on day 3, 7 and 14 and various parameters viz. body weight, TSI (%), spermiogram and tissue histopathology were evaluated. The results showed a consistent increase in body weight of group I, whereas a decrease was recorded in group II on all the days. E. coli could be recovered in higher numbers from right set of all the reproductive organs of group II as compared to left. However, group I mice were bacteriologically sterile. While assessing the seminal parameters, group II showed significant reduction in sperm count, motility and viability along with altered morphology in right set of organs as compared to group I. In contrast to group I, histopathology of group II revealed significant alterations viz. hypospermatogenesis and inflammation in reproductive organs. Finally, confiscation of E. coli by ciprofloxacin resulted in restoration of normal reproductive vigor by day 3. Hence, the presence of E. coli or its products in male genital tract could result in diminished reproductive health.
Escherichia coli; Male infertility; Spermiogram
Rana K, Prabha V. Sperm Agglutinating Escherichia coli and Male Infertility: An In Vivo Study. Ann Infert Rep Endocrin. 2018;1(2):1011.