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Interactions between Leukocytes and the Male Reproductive System

The Unanswered Questions

  • Chapter
The Fate of the Male Germ Cell

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 424))

Abstract

It is well established that leukocytes are often present in seminal fluid and consequently there exists an overwhelming potential for interactions between different types of leukocytes and spermatozoa. However, the precise role of leukocytes in the semen and the fate of spermatozoa are not fully understood. For comprehensive descriptions of the biological significance of leukocytes in semen we recommend reviews by Wolff (1995) and Aitken and Baker (1995) and for a discussion of the immunosuppressive mechanisms in semen we suggest a recent review by Kelly (1995). The purpose of this mini-review is to highlight some of the pertinent, largely unanswered, questions regarding the role of interactions between inflammatory cells and the male reproductive system. In addition, we discuss the ill-defined fate of senescent spermatozoa in comparison to the relatively well understood fate of apoptotic somatic cells.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine Respiratory Medicine Unit Rayne Laboratory, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland

    A. G. Rossi

  2. MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9EW, Scotland

    R. J. Aitken

Authors
  1. A. G. Rossi
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  2. R. J. Aitken
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Hormone and Fertility Research, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Richard Ivell

  2. Anatomical Institute, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Adolf-Friedrich Holstein

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© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Rossi, A.G., Aitken, R.J. (1997). Interactions between Leukocytes and the Male Reproductive System. In: Ivell, R., Holstein, AF. (eds) The Fate of the Male Germ Cell. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 424. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5913-9_46

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5913-9_46

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7711-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5913-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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