title: Sperm antibodies in infertile women: a comparison of three methods for handling the cervical mucus for extraction of immunoglobulins.
abstract: Three procedures commonly employed in the extraction of soluble proteins from cervical mucus, for the application of the technique for the detection of sperm antibodies also in this biological fluid, were compared in order to establish which provided the highest yield. Studies were therefore carried out on 125 women with primary and secondary sterility characterized by good rheologic qualities of their mid-cycle cervical mucus and in presence of repeatedly poor PCTs, not justified by the seminal characteristics of their partners. The laboratory results and the statistical analysis have shown that as far as concerns IgG, liquefaction with bromelin and solubilization with Baker's buffer provide a better yield than ultracentrifugation; while bromelin alone has the best yield with IgA.
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001963:Bromelains; D002021:Buffers; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013073:Sperm Agglutination; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*; D014461:Ultracentrifugation
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002021:Buffers; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D001963:Bromelains