Effects of antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein on in vitro sperm motion: implications in infertility associated with endometriosis

Subbi Pillai, Pillai S, S Pillai, Philip F. Rust, P. F. Rust, Rust PF, Leslie Howard, L Howard, Howard L
American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 1998 · vol. 39(4) , pp. 235–242 · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0897.1998.tb00359.x · PMID:9553647 · W2047609152
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Antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein significantly reduced sperm motion parameters and survival in vitro, suggesting a role in endometriosis-associated infertility.

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Abstract

PROBLEM: Women with endometriosis have antibodies to endometrial transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein in their serum and peritoneal fluid. The objective of this study was to determine whether antibodies to transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein adversely affect sperm motility and survival. METHOD OF STUDY: Spermatozoa obtained from normal fertile donors and washed free of seminal plasma were incubated with the medium (control), 1:2 and 1:100 dilutions of antitransferrin, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:100 dilutions of anti-alpha 2-HS glycoprotein, and a 1:2 dilution of antialbumin antiserum (negative control). Sperm motion characteristics in 10 microliters aliquots were evaluated at 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, and 24 hr using computerized sperm motion analysis. A paired t-test was done to analyze the effects of the various antibodies on sperm motion characteristics. RESULTS: Antibodies to albumin failed to adversely affect sperm motility in general or the several sperm motion characteristics in particular. In contrast, antibodies to transferrin at the dilution of 1:2 adversely affected the percentage of motile and rapid spermatozoa, progressive and path velocities, straightness, linearity, track speed, and anterior-lateral head displacement (P < 0.001) at all the time intervals, whereas a 1:100 dilution of this antiserum adversely affected these parameters only at 24 hr. Elongation and beat cross-frequency were significantly affected at 4 and 24 hr by a 1:2 dilution of antitransferrin antiserum. The effects of anti-alpha 2-HS glycoprotein were more pronounced than those of antitransferrin, but they were similar. Dilutions of 1:4 and 1:8 were effective at all time intervals, whereas a 1:100 dilution was effective in reducing the track speed and the percentage of rapid cells at 24 hr (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Antibodies to endometrial transferrin and alpha 2-HS glycoprotein present in the peritoneal fluid, and possibly in the oviductal fluid, of patients with endometriosis may adversely affect postcoital sperm motility and sperm survival.

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Condition tags

endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Antibodies Blood Proteins Sperm Motility Transferrin alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein Antibodies Antibodies Blood Proteins Blood Proteins Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Female Humans Humans Infertility Infertility Infertility

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