Isolation of a human spermatozoal hapten "II2.2' and its reaction with naturally occurring human sperm-immobilizing sera from infertile patients.
An extract of human spermatozoa was prepared using Hyamine 2389 and Triton X-100. With gel and ion-exchange chromatography several fractions were obtained of which are reacted specifically with sperm-immobilizing antibodies of infertile females and males in an immune inhibition test. This fraction showed haptenic properties, ahd a molecular weight of 1600 and was excluded as an anticomplement factor. After conjugation with cytochrome c the hapten II2.2 formed precipitation reactions with 3 out of 4 sperm-immobilizing sera. The titer reduction in sperm-immobilizing sera after adsorption with II2.2 may represent an in vitro model for a possible treatment of infertility in cases of a humoral sensitization against spermatozoa. On the other hand, the hapten might easily be synthesized and could, after conjugation to an appropriate carrier, serve as a contraceptive vaccine.
D000941:Antigens; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D005260:Female; D006241:Haptens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013073:Sperm Agglutination; D013078:Sperm Immobilizing Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D006241:Haptens; D013078:Sperm Immobilizing Agents