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ANTIBODIES AGAINST SERTOLI CELLS IN HUMAN INFERTILITY
Author(s) -
WALL J. R.,
STEDRONSKA JITKA,
LESSOF M. H.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1974.tb01794.x
Subject(s) - sertoli cell , antibody , endocrinology , biology , autoimmunity , medicine , anti nuclear antibody , testicle , autoantibody , infertility , immunology , spermatogenesis , pregnancy , genetics
SUMMARY Antibodies reacting with a cytoplasmic component of Sertoli cells were detected in the serum of a 20‐year‐old man with hypogonadism and azospermia. The appearances on testicular biopsy were of Leydig cell hypoplasia and maturation arrest of the germinal cells, but apparently normal Sertoli cells. These findings contrasted with those seen in ninety‐three infertile men, in whom Sertoli cell antibodies were not found but in whom antibodies against the germinal cells were found in ten cases (11%), whilst spermatozoal antibodies were detected in twenty‐four cases (26%) and other antibodies (thyroid cytoplasmic, gastric parietal cell, mitochondrial ‘M’ and antinuclear antibodies) in seventeen cases (18%). It is postulated that autoimmunity involving the germinal or Sertoli cells may be a cause of testicular disease. The only other case in which Sertoli cell antibodies have been found was that of an infertile woman with Sjögren's disease. This raises the possibility that there may be a Sertoli cell equivalent in the ovary containing a similar range of enzymes or other antigenic components and that autoimmunity involving these components may also be a cause of infertility in the female.