Elementary bodies (EBs) of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar E are more toxic to sperm than those from serovar LGV. In this study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was prepared from the EBs of both serovars and incubated with human spermatozoa at concentrations that matched the LPS concentration of EBs. The effects of EBs and LPS on sperm motility, viability and acrosomal status were then determined. Sperm motility was measured by computer-assisted sperm analysis and the hypo-osmotic swelling test was used to determine the proportion of dead cells. Acrosomal status was examined using a standard mAb assay. Over a 6 h incubation, LPS from both serovars resulted in a marked reduction in sperm motility (and a concomitant increase in the proportion of dead spermatozoa) in a manner similar to that seen in response to EBs of serovar E. In addition, when sperm were incubated with a range of doses of EBs and LPS, probit analysis revealed that the greater spermicidal effects of EBs from serovar E (when compared with serovar LGV) were not observed when sperm were incubated with LPS from the two serovars. This suggests that the more potent effect of EBs of serovar E cannot be explained entirely by differences in the composition of LPS. Interestingly, Escherichia coli LPS was required in doses 500 times more concentrated than chlamydial LPS in order to kill a similar proportion of sperm, suggesting that bacterial LPSs may differ in their spermicidal properties. However, that chlamydial LPS was spermicidal was demonstrated by the use of polymyxin B (a polycationic antibiotic known to neutralize LPS effects), confirming that the effects observed were primarily a result of LPS activity.
CaldwellH. D,
KromhoutJ,
SchachterJ.1981; Purification and partial characterization of the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis. Infect Immun 31:1161–1176
DuffG. W,
AtkinsE.1982; The inhibitory effect of polymyxin B on endotoxin-induced endogenous pyrogen production. J Immunol Methods 52:333–340[CrossRef]
GaldieroF,
SommeseL,
GorgaF,
GaldieroE,
RizzoA,
AjelloM.1994; Toxic effect on human spermatozoa by Chlamydia trachomatis purified lipopolysaccharide. FEMS Microbiol Lett 115:197–200[CrossRef]
HosseinzadehS,
BrewisI. A,
PaceyA. A,
MooreH. D. M,
EleyA.2000; Coincubation of human spermatozoa with Chlamydia trachomatis in vitro causes increased tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins. Infect Immun 68:4872–4876[CrossRef]
HosseinzadehS,
BrewisI. A,
EleyA,
PaceyA. A.2001; Co-incubation of human spermatozoa with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar E causes premature sperm death. Hum Reprod 16:293–299[CrossRef]
KessopoulouE,
TomlinsonM. J,
BarrattC. L. R,
BoltonA. E,
CookeI. D.1992; Origin of reactive oxygen species in human semen: spermatozoa or leucocytes?. J Reprod Fertil 94:463–470[CrossRef]
LanL,
OssewaardeJ. M,
WalboomersJ. M,
MeijerC. J,
van den BruleA. J.1994; Improved PCR sensitivity for direct genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis serovars by using a nested PCR. J Clin Microbiol 32:528–530
MooreH. D. M,
SmithC. A,
HartmanT. D,
ByeA. P.1987; Visualization and characterization of the acrosome reaction of human spermatozoa by immunolocalization with monoclonal antibody. Gamete Res 17:245–249[CrossRef]
MorréS. A,
RozendaalL,
van ValkengoedI. G. M.8 other authors2000; Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis serovars in men and women with a symptomatic or asymptomatic infection: an association with clinical manifestations?. J Clin Microbiol 38:2292–2296
SikkaS. C,
ChampionH. C,
BivalacquaT. J,
EstradaL. S,
WangR,
RajasekaranM,
AggarwalB. B,
HellstromW. J.2001; Role of genitourinary inflammation in infertility: synergistic effect of lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ on human spermatozoa. Int J Androl 24:136–141[CrossRef]
TaraktchoglouM,
PaceyA. A,
TurnbullJ. E,
EleyA.2001; Infectivity of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar LGV but not E is dependent on host cell heparan sulfate. Infect Immun 69:968–976[CrossRef]
TjiamK. H,
van HeijstB. Y. M,
de RooJ. C,
de BeerA,
van JoostT,
MichelM. F,
StolzE.1984; Survival of Chlamydia trachomatis in different transport media and at different temperatures: diagnostic implications. Br J Vener Dis 60:92–94