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Sperm acrosome antigen‐1, a molecule intimately involved in the regulation of the acrosome reaction: analysis of expression on spermatozoa from infertile couples
Author(s) -
Brucker C.,
Löser C.,
Hinrichsen M.,
Berg F.D.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1997.tb00469.x
Subject(s) - sperm , acrosome reaction , acrosome , andrology , infertility , unexplained infertility , antigen , monoclonal antibody , male infertility , biology , antibody , immunology , chemistry , medicine , genetics , pregnancy
Summary Sperm acrosome antigen‐1 (SAA‐1) is a molecule on the acrosomal cap of sperm from the human and a number of mammalian and lower species. SAA‐1 was initially characterized by a monoclonal antibody (mab) AG7 directed against SAA‐1. Previous studies indicate that SAA‐1 may play an important role in the regulation of the acrosome reaction in the human and other species. Unselected couples seeking infertility treatment were subjected to an analysis of the amount of SAA‐1 present on washed husband sperm. Using indirect immunonuorescence as well as radioimmunobinding assay, the expression of SAA‐1 on patient spermatozoa was found to be significantly decreased compared to a group of healthy sperm donors. The decrease in SAA‐1 did not correlate well with sperm morphology. Couples entered into the study were followed for an average of 12 months, while they received infertility treatment. Most couples conceived after a variable number of treatment cycles. It is concluded that a decrease of SAA‐1 expression may contribute to subfertility, which can be overcome by the aid of assisted reproduction.