Fertilization antigen-1 removes antisperm autoantibodies from spermatozoa of infertile men and results in increased rates of acrosome reaction.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if fertilization antigen (FA)-1 will remove autoantibodies from the surface of sperm cells of immunoinfertile men by immune adsorption and permit an increased acrosome reaction (AR).


METHODS
Prospective analytic study.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
Men from 18 infertile couples with autoantibodies present on their spermatozoa.


METHODS
Sperm samples after processing were examined for antibody binding and AR before and after adsorption with control medium or FA-1.


METHODS
Sperm-bound antibody was assessed by the immunobead assay (immunoglobulin [Ig] A and IgG) and the AR by induction with ionophore A23187.


RESULTS
Adsorption with FA-1 compared with control medium increased immunobead-free swimming sperm an average of 50% and 76% for IgA and IgG antisperm antibodies, respectively, with 78% and 100% of the 18 semen specimens increasing significantly. The AR rate increased an average of 10.3% compared with control medium and showed improvement in 78% of the sperm samples after FA-1 adsorption.


CONCLUSIONS
The FA-1 sperm antigen appears to significantly free sperm cells coated with autoantibodies in the semen of most infertile men examined. Reducing sperm-bound antibodies that inhibited the AR allowed the sperm cells to undergo successful AR induction by calcium ionophore.
Menge
A C
AC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor 48109-0272, USA. amenge@umich.edu
Christman
G M
GM
Ohl
D A
DA
Naz
R K
RK
D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*