Recognition of carbohydrate antigen epitopes by sperm-immobilizing antibodies in sera of infertile women.
OBJECTIVE
To study carbohydrate natures in the antigen epitopes corresponding to sperm-immobilizing antibodies in infertile women.


METHODS
Antibody absorption with human sperm and seminal plasma before and after treatments with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid or sodium metaperiodate.


METHODS
Thirty-three patients who showed a positive sperm immobilization test provided their sera for the experiment.


RESULTS
In 25 patients' sera whose sperm-immobilizing antibodies were absorbed with human seminal plasma, the antibody absorbing capabilities were completely abolished by deglycosylation treatment with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. The sperm-immobilizing antibodies in 4 patients' sera were absorbed out with sperm membrane fraction before the treatment but not after the treatment with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. In some patients' sera, the antibody-absorbing capabilities of ejaculated sperm were markedly reduced by sodium metaperiodate treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of sperm-immobilizing antibodies in infertile patients might be generated to carbohydrate structures of the sperm-coating antigens or sperm membrane antigens.
Koyama
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hyogo Medical College, Japan.
Kameda
K
K
Nakamura
N
N
Kubota
K
K
Shigeta
M
M
Isojima
S
S
D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000276:immunology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D002241:Carbohydrates; D000939:Epitopes; D010504:Periodic Acid; C009288:metaperiodate