title: Detection of induced anti-sperm antibodies by an improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
abstract: The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been adapted for the detection of human anti-sperm antibodies (ASA). The use of peroxidase in the enzyme-anti-immunoglobulin conjugate, together with a nontoxic chromogenic substrate (MBTH-DMAB), renders the assay highly sensitive for detection of sperm surface antigens. This ELISA is highly reproducible, not only intra-assay (94% to 97%) but also interassay (80% to 96%). A great advantage of this ELISA is that microplates can be kept at -20 degrees C for months without any decrease in the response. New Zealand white rabbits showed a significant response to human sperm and tail fractions obtained by sonication. The sperm were extremely immunogenic, reaching titers of antisera of 1/10,000 or more. The results show that this ELISA is a good tool for the objective measurement of the anti-sperm response, and is significantly more sensitive than other techniques for anti-sperm antibody analysis.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologia Fonamental V. Villar Palasi, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Benet-Rubinat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lepp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egozcue
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andolz
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bielsa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies