Inhibition of complement-mediated cytotoxicity of antisera by fluid secreted by the seminal vesicle of the house mouse.
The fluid from the seminal vesicles of the house mouse inhibited complement-mediated cytotoxicity of antisera against both sperm and lymphocytes. This inhibition was not reduced by heating or by absorption with sperm. Fractionation of the seminal vesicle fluid on Sephadex G-100 columns revealed three peaks of inhibitory activity, one of which appeared in the void volume of the columns. This inhibitory action of the seminal vesicle fluid may protect sperm from immunological attack in the female reproductive tract. It could explain the observation that immunization of female house mice with sperm does not prevent pregnancy. The relationship between this activity in the seminal vesicles of house mice, which is directed against the cytotoxicity of antisera, and the inhibition of cell-mediated responses to sperm reported for human and bull semen have not been investigated.
D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000276:immunology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology
D011506:Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins