Apoptosis of ejaculated human sperm is induced by co-incubation with Chlamydia trachomatis lipopolysaccharide

Abstract

In general it is believed that apoptosis does not occur in C. trachomatis-infected host cells. However, using three different methods, our findings clearly indicate that co-incubation of sperm with C. trachomatis LPS results in cellular death which is in part due to apoptosis and is caspase-mediated. These findings provide an explanation as to how C. trachomatis can mediate premature death in human sperm.