title: Inhibition of viral reverse transcriptase and human sperm DNA polymerase by anti-sperm antibodies.
abstract: The IgG fraction of serum from a rabbit immunized with detergent-prepared human sperm nuclei inhibited the DNA polymerase activities in human sperm and seminal fluid as well as the partially purified reverse transcriptase of the baboon endogenous type-C retrovirus (BEV). The analogous enzymes from lysates of oncogenic type-C viruses was unaffected. IgG from the serum of individual partners from infertile marriages similarly inhibited both purified BEV reverse transcriptase and human sperm DNA polymerase, but not a DNA polymerase isolated from human prostatic fluid. The data suggest that BEV reverse transcriptase and the human sperm DNA polymerase are antigenically related. Furthermore, the sperm appears to be auto-antigenic and the antibodies thus formed may be capable of interfering with reproductive success.
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology*; D007246:Infertility / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000276:immunology*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001324:Autoantigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase