Auto-immunity to spermatozoa and quality of semen in men with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of anti-sperm antibodies in serum, and on spermatozoa, in men with spinal cord injury.


METHODS
Thirty men whose injury occurred 1 to 18 years ago compared with 30 men with normal semen.


METHODS
Eighteen tetraplegic and 12 paraplegic patients were treated with vibrator or rectal electrostimulation, yielding a total of 25 ejaculates.


RESULTS
Semen analyses (WHO): volume low, with concentration > 100 million/mL in 80%; 8/30 exhibited sperm agglutinating antibodies, but with low titres.


CONCLUSIONS
Low titres of serum antibodies and absence of attached IgA antibodies indicate autoimmunity is not the cause of low sperm motility and penetration capacity in these patients.
Siösteen
A
A
Department of Neurosurgery, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Ostra Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Steen
Y
Y
Forssman
L
L
Sullivan
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000276:immunology; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A