The debate on the presence of HIV-1 virus in human spermatozoa

The debate about the presence of HIV-1 virus particles in human spermatozoa is reviewed and recent experimental results are reported in detail. Using immuno-cytochemistry, in situ hybridization at the electron microscopy level, the polymerase chain reaction and in vitro fertilization, it has been demonstrated that human spermatozoa can incorporate HIV-1 using special receptors different from the commonly used CD4, and that the spermatozoa remain active and able to vehicle viral particles into the oocyte, which is regularly being fertilized.