Signifi cance of the Acrosomal Proteins andSpermagglutinating Antibodies Detection in HumanReproduction

Overview

Objective:
Comparison of the positive intra-acrosomal proteins and spermagglutinating antibodiesin human semen samples from various groups of patients.Design: Prospective study.Setting: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Faculty Hospital, Charles University, Pilsen,Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Science, Prague.Methods: Monoclonal antibodies Hs-8 and Hs-14 (prepared in the Institute of Molecular Genetics,Prague) were used for detection of intra-acrosomal sperm proteins. Microscopic immunofl uores cent methods detected the incidence, the character and the percentage of the spermatozoa specified by above-mentioned monoclonal antibodies. Direct mixed anti-immunoglobulin reactionstest (MAR-test) for IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE was used for detection of spermagglutinating antibody. Weexamined 315 infertile patients from Special Consultation for Immunology of Reproduction andfrom the IVF programme, and sperm healthy donors (January 2002 – March 2003).Results: Native donor‘s sperm cells had excellent positive intra-acrosomal proteins stained withmonoclonal antibodies Hs8 and Hs14 and after thawing as well as. No spermagglutinating antibodieswere found. In the group with normal sperm count and light microscopic morphology wefound the presence of seminal spermagglutinating antibodies in 11% (IgG), in 14.5% (IgA), in 3.6%(IgM), in 5.2% (IgE). Signifi cant positivity of intra-acrosomal protein stained with Hs8 monoclonalantibody was reached in 68.4%, and with Hs14 monoclonal antibody in even 81.3% of men. Onthe other hand, in oligoasthenospermatic patients we found signifi cant increasing of spermagglutinatingantibodies (for IgG 40.5%, for IgA 28.6%, for IgM 9.5%, for IgE 11.9%). Dominant goodstaining of intra-acrosomal proteins were seen only in 15.5% of men (for Hs8) and in 20.2% (forHs14).Conclusion: The quantitative detection of intra-acrosomal sperm proteins and spermagglutinatingantibodies are used as important properties of human semen and serve for evaluation ofacrosomal state, and male fertility together.

Key words:
integrita akrosomu, intra-akrosomální proteiny, monoklonální protilátky protiakrosomálním proteinům, protilátky proti spermiím