[Primitive research on the effect of FSH autoantibody on the spermatogenic capability of the rat testis].
OBJECTIVE
To establish rat models of FSH autoantibody and to investigate the effect of FSH autoantibody on the spermatogenic capability of rat testis.


METHODS
Thirsty 21-day old SD rats were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group of equal number. A specific polypeptide corresponding to the rat FSHbeta subunit was synthesized and coupled to (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) KLH. The rats in the experimental group were immunized with polypeptide-KLH and these in the control group with KLH. Further immunization was performed every 2 weeks for 7 times. On the 77th, 91st and 105th day of the immunization, 5 rats from the experimental group and another 5 from the control group were killed. Then the structures of the seminiferous tubule and epididymal sperm were observed by light and electron microscope, respectively. Meanwhile, the counts of sperms and the percentage of swelled sperm were calculated. And the level of serum testosterone was detected by enzyme-linked immunospecific assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The titer of the anti-polypeptide antibody was 1:200 on the 49th day of the immunization, and reached 1:400 on the 63rd. Compared with the control group, the percentage of swelled sperm significantly decreased on the 91st day (60.4 +/- 6.23 vs 50.60 +/- 3.05, P < 0.05), and the number of spermatogenic cells and sperms in seminiferous tubules reduced on the 105th day in the experimental group, the counts of sperms (46.08 +/- 6.56 vs 32.53 +/- 3.41) and the percentage of swelled sperm (60.60 +/- 5.86 vs 48.60 +/- 3.85) significantly lower (P < 0.05), while the level of serum T significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
FSH autoantibody might cause testis dyszoospermia.
Xu
Hui-ru
HR
Institute of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, China.
Shi
Yi-min
YM
Hou
Lin
L
Wang
Chen-yang
CY
Jiang
Chao
C
Huang
Zhu
Z
Yao
Bing
B
D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000502:physiology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000276:immunology*; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin