Seminal plasma inhibits lymphocyte response to T-dependent and -independent antigens in vitro.
The effect of seminal plasma, epididymal spermatozoa, or whole semen on antibody producing cells was examined in vitro after (i) direct culture with spleen or B cells, and (ii) cocultivation of B cells with T cells previously incubated with seminal plasma. Seminal plasma, and not epididymal spermatozoa, have an inhibitory effect on the direct hemolytic plague forming cell response. This was mediated by a direct inhibitory effect on the B cell and not through the generation of suppressor T cells as demonstrated by responses to T-independent and -dependent antigens. Thus, the mode of suppressive action of seminal plasma in vitro is probably different from that previously reported in vivo.
D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D000955:Antigens, T-Independent; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes