Journal article
Hematogenous dissemination of Chlamydia muridarum from the urethra in macrophages causes testicular infection and sperm DNA damage
Biology of reproduction, v 101(4), pp 748-759
01 Oct 2019
PMID: 31373361
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The incidence of Chlamydia infection, in both females and males, is increasing worldwide. Male infections have been associated clinically with urethritis, epididymitis, and orchitis, believed to be caused by ascending infection, although the impact of infection on male fertility remains controversial. Using a mouse model of male chlamydial infection, we show that all the major testicular cell populations, germ cells, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and testicular macrophages can be productively infected. Furthermore, sperm isolated from vas deferens of infected mice also had increased levels of DNA damage as early as 4 weeks post-infection. Bilateral vasectomy, prior to infection, did not affect the chlamydial load recovered from testes at 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-infection, and Chlamydia-infected macrophages were detectable in blood and the testes as soon as 3 days post-infection. Partial depletion of macrophages with clodronate liposomes significantly reduced the testicular chlamydial burden, consistent with a hematogenous route of infection, with Chlamydia transported to the testes in infected macrophages. These data suggest that macrophages serve as Trojan horses, transporting Chlamydia from the penile urethra to the testes within 3 days of infection, bypassing the entire male reproductive tract. In the testes, infected macrophages likely transfer infection to Leydig, Sertoli, and germ cells, causing sperm DNA damage and impaired spermatogenesis.
Summary Sentence
Hematogenous dissemination of C. muridarum from the urethra in macrophages causes testicular infection and sperm DNA damage.
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Details
- Title
- Hematogenous dissemination of Chlamydia muridarum from the urethra in macrophages causes testicular infection and sperm DNA damage
- Creators
- Emily R. Bryan - Queensland University of TechnologyAvinash Kollipara - Queensland University of TechnologyLogan K. Trim - Queensland University of TechnologyCharles W. Armitage - Queensland University of TechnologyAlison J. Carey - Queensland University of TechnologyBettina Mihalas - University of Newcastle AustraliaKate A. Redgrove - University of Newcastle AustraliaEileen A. McLaughlin - University of Newcastle AustraliaKenneth W. Beagley - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication Details
- Biology of reproduction, v 101(4), pp 748-759
- Publisher
- Oxford Univ Press
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- APP1062198 / Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC); National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia APP1052464 / NHMRC ECR Fellowship; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia QUT's School of Biomedical Sciences
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Pediatrics; College of Medicine; Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000509503400010
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85074875324
- Other Identifier
- 991020099055904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Reproductive Biology