Premium
AN IMMUNOFLUORESCENT STUDY OF SPERM ISOIMMUNIZATION IN INFERTILE WOMEN
Author(s) -
Jones W. R.,
Ing R. M. Y.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1974.tb00484.x
Subject(s) - sperm , staining , antibody , andrology , acrosome , agglutination (biology) , antigen , biology , semen , direct agglutination test , immunology , medicine , serology , genetics
Summary Serum from 32 infertile women and from eight control patients was investigated for antisperm activity using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique. The results confirmed previous reports of the surface localization of antigens on human spermatozoa. Specific antibody staining was observed on the sperm acrosome and tail; neck and equatorial segment staining was common and non‐specific. Antibodies in the IgM and IgG classes localized on the acrosome, whereas tail staining was exclusively due to IgG antibodies. In seven out of eight sera in which a complement‐dependent sperm immobilization test was positive, an IgG antibody was demonstrated which localized on the sperm tail. There was a poor correlation between positive sperm micro‐agglutination and specific immuno‐fluorescent reactions.