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Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 11, 2333-2337, November 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

DNA of adeno-associated virus (AAV) in testicular tissue and in abnormal semen samples

Kerstin Erles1, Volker Rohde2, Michael Thaele3, Susanne Roth3, Lutz Edler4 and Jörg R. Schlehofer1,5

1 Angewandte Tumorvirologie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, 2 Clinic of Urology and Pediatric Urology, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, 3 Institut für Fortpflanzungsmedizin, Saarbrücken and 4 Biostatistik, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany

BACKGROUND: Human genital tissues, including spermatozoa, have been found to be frequently infected with the helper-virus dependent parvovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV). METHODS: To assess the role of AAV infection in disorders of the male reproductive system, semen samples from 95 men (including 73 men attending a fertility programme) and testicular samples from patients with azoospermia (n = 38) or prostate cancer (n = 8) were analysed using polymerase chain reaction for the presence of AAV DNA. Semen quality was assessed according to World Health Organization guidelines and the grade of atrophy of testicular biopsies was determined histomorphologically. RESULTS: AAV DNA was detected in 38% (28/73) of ejaculates from men with abnormal semen analyses (oligoasthenozoospermia or asthenozoospermia) and in 4.6% of normal semen samples (1/22, P = 0.003). DNA from AAV helper-viruses (human papillomaviruses, cytomegalovirus) was detected at similar frequencies in normal and abnormal semen samples. In testes, AAV DNA was detected in 10 out of 38 biopsies from infertile men (26%), and in 2 out of 8 orchidectomy samples. CONCLUSION: The data show an increased incidence of AAV infection with abnormal semen analysis. Detection of AAV DNA in the testes might point to a role for AAV infection in male infertility, possibly by interfering with spermatozoa development.

Key words: AAV/fertility/HCMV/HPV/PCR

5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Angewandte Tumorvirologie F0100, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum,Im Neuenheimer Feld 242, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. E-mail: j.schlehofer{at}dkfz.de


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