A view of immunologic male infertility from the perspective of preserving seminal fluid homeostasis

The basis of the pathogenesis of immunologic male infertility is the production of antisperm antibodies against sperm antigens by plasmocytes. Extracellular nucleic acids, among other antigens, are perceived as DAMPs. The clearance system for biological fluids is complex. Endonucleases are responsible for the utilization of extracellular DNA. Among endonucleases, DNase 1 is the most studied. Its concentration in biological fluids is higher than others. For the first time, we determined the concentration of DNase 1 in the seminal fluid of men of reproductive age. DNase 1 concentration values were compared with the level of antisperm antibodies in the ejaculate, after which the relationship between the enzyme level and standard spermogram parameters was determined. The material for the study was the ejaculate of 44 relatively healthy men of reproductive age. During spermiological analysis, macroscopic and microscopic parameters of seminal fluid were determined, the concentration of deoxyribonuclease 1 (DNase 1) in the material was determined by enzyme immunoassay, and the presence of antisperm antibodies was assessed using a direct diagnostic method – the MAR test. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using analytical software PAST v. 4.06. Reference intervals for DNase 1 concentrations were calculated using the MedCalc v. 17.4 program. The relationship between spermogram parameters and DNase 1 concentration was assessed by calculating Spearman’s linear rank correlation coefficients. As a result, a negative correlation was found between the DNase 1 ratio and such ejaculate parameters as liquefaction time (r_S = -0.37; p = 0.013) and viscosity (r_S = -0.37; p = 0.013), as well as the level of antisperm antibodies A (r_S = -0.43; p = 0.003) and G (r_S = -0.33; p = 0.027), the mucous component of the ejaculate (r_S = -0.37; p = 0.012) and agglutination of male germ cells (r_S = -0.33; p = 0.029). According to the data obtained, the optimal level of DNase 1 is directly related to the quality of the ejaculate. Determination of DNase 1 concentration can serve as an additional diagnostic criterion for male immunological infertility. These data will expand our understanding of a man’s fertile potential.