Monoclonal antibodies against sperm intra-acrosomal antigens as markers for male infertility diagnostics and estimation of spermatogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the ability of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against acrosomal antigens to detect physiology and pathology of human spermatozoa and to detect spermatids in ejaculates of infertile male with azoospermia.


METHODS
Sperm antigens detected with prepared MoAbs were partially characterized by biochemical and immunocytochemical methods. The acrosomal status of spermatozoa was compared in men with normal and pathological spermiograms and in sperm before and after induced acrosome reaction (AR). Ejaculates from patients were tested for the presence of spermatids.


RESULTS
MoAbs specifically bind to intra-acrosomal sperm antigens with quantitative difference between ejaculates with normal and pathological spermiograms. These antigens are released from the acrosome after induced AR. MoAbs labeled acrosomal proteins in round and elongated spermatids in the ejaculates of patients with azoospermia.


CONCLUSIONS
MoAbs against intra-acrosomal sperm antigens are useful for human sperm diagnosis and prediction of spermatogenesis. The spermatids can be utilized in assisted reproduction.
Peknicova
Jana
J
Department of Biology and Biochemistry of Fertilization, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic. jpeknic@biomed.cas.cz
Chladek
David
D
Hozak
Pavel
P
D000177:Acrosome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015415:Biomarkers