The presence of complement in human cervical mucus and its possible relevance to infertility in women with complement-dependent sperm-immobilizing antibodies.
Full-complement component lytic activity was measured in human midcycle cervical mucus, using a sensitive 51Cr release hemolytic assay. The level measured was 11.5% of the activity of complement in an equal volume of undiluted human serum. The relevance of this level of complement to complement-dependent sperm-immobilizing antibody activity was studied. After 1 hour's incubation with mucus levels of complement, immobilization of about 50% of spermatozoa occurred and after 3 hours' incubation, immobilization of about 70% of spermatozoa occurred.
D000906:Antibodies; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000276:immunology*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013078:Sperm Immobilizing Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000906:Antibodies; D013078:Sperm Immobilizing Agents; D003165:Complement System Proteins