Heterogeneity of antigenic determinants on human spermatozoa: relevance to antisperm antibody testing in infertile couples.
Sera from 1074 male and 947 female partners of infertile marriages were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibodies to motile sperm purified from ejaculates of the male partners or a donor. In men, 9.2% of the sera were positive for immunoglobulin A, 7.9% for immunoglobulin G, and 5.1% for immunoglobulin M antibodies to their own sperm. In women, immunoglobulin M antibodies to the husband's sperm predominated (10.1%), with immunoglobulins G (8.3%) and A (5.9%) following. Differences between men and women in the incidence of immunoglobulin A (p less than 0.01) and M (p less than 0.005) antibodies were significant. In both sexes only about two thirds of the antibody-positive sera remained positive when donor sperm was substituted for partners' sperm in the assay. The decreased occurrences of antisperm immunoglobulins A (p less than 0.025) and G (p less than 0.01) in men and of immunoglobulins G (p less than 0.025) and M (p less than 0.01) in women were significant. Incubation of donor sperm in the husband's cell-free seminal fluid before analysis led to the acquisition of sperm reactivity with husband-specific antisperm antibodies in only one of eight women. Women with husband-specific antisperm antibodies also exhibited differences in their cell-mediated immune responses to sperm from various men. Thus sperm from different individuals vary in their ability to react with the immune system of sperm-sensitized men or women.
Witkin
S S
SS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.
Vogel-Roccuzzo
R
R
David
S S
SS
Berkeley
A
A
Goldstein
M
M
Graf
M
M
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000939:Epitopes