Aim: To study the relationship between Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection and apoptosis of human spermatogenic cells.
Methods: Spermatogenic cells were observed under light microscope with Wright-Giemsa staining and by means of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique.
Results: Apoptotic rate of UU-infected males (15.5% +/- 6.8%) was significantly higher than that of controls (5.2% +/- 2.3%).
Conclusion: Apoptosis of spermatogenic cells can be caused by UU infection, which provides further evidence for UU-induced male infertility.