Acute Myeloid Leukemia Impaired Mouse Male Fertility by Affecting Seminiferous Tubule Parameters, Spermatogenic Cell Counts and Sperm Parameters

Yulia Michailov ² Joseph Kapelushnik ³ Shevach Friedler ⁵ Eitan Lunenfeld ⁴ Mahmoud Huleihel ¹

¹The Shraga Segal Dep. of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, The Center of Advanced Research and Education in Reproduction (CARER), Faculty of Health Sciences, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
²The Shraga Segal Dep. of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, The Center of Advanced Research and Education in Reproduction (CARER), Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
³Dep. of Pediatric Oncology and Dep. of Hematology, Soroka Medical Center, The Center of Advanced Research and Education in Reproduction (CARER), Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
⁴Dep. OB/GYN, Soroka Medical Center, The Center of Advanced Research and Education in Reproduction (CARER), Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
⁵IVF Unit, Barzilai University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common disease that affect all ages of patients. It was shown to impair semen parameters and hormones and to affect male fertility. The mechanisms behind these effects have not fully been studied.

Aim: To examine the effect of AML on mouse seminiferous tubules (STs) parameters and on spermatogenic cells and male fertility.

Materials and Methods: Six-week-old mice were injected with murine AML cell line and with saline as control. Mice were sacrificed after 3 weeks. Testes were removed and fixed for histological evaluation. Also, sperm cells were extracted from the epididymis. The fertility capacity of the mice was examined by mating with normal females. Results: Mice were still alive 4 weeks after AML injection. A significant decrease in the number of cell layers and a significant increase in the size of the lumen of the STs were demonstrated in AML mice compared to control. The number of premeiotic (SALL4,PLZF) cells/ST and the percentage of STs with meiotic (CREM-1) or postmeiotic (ACROSIN) cells were significantly lower in AML mice compared to control. The percentage of STs with apoptotic cells significantly increased in AML mice compared to control. Sperm concentration, motility and morphology were significantly lower in AML mice compared to control. The fertility capacity of the AML mice were 50% of the control.

Conclusions: This study deepens our understanding of mechanism behind reduced fertility and infertility in AML male patients. It includes effect on the ST histology, apoptosis of the cells and as a result reduced spermatogenic cell counts.