Sperm-Antibody (Anti-Spermatozoa Antibody, Anti-Sperm Antibody)

Antibodies directed against spermatozoa antigens may cause infertility in women or men. The application of the Anti-Spermatozoa Antibody ELISA from Biovendor is recommended for the diagnosis of immunologically caused disorders of fertility. Unwanted childlessness is a growing problem with which up to 20% of all couples in the reproductive age are confronted temporarily or long-term. In 20% of these cases the presence of anti-spermatozoa antibodies in the male or the female patient is detectable (Lahteenmaki A et al: Hum Reprod (1995) 10, 2824–28; Nagy ZP et al: Hum Reprod (1995) 10, 1775–80). The definition of infertility according to the WHO (WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Semen Cervical-Mucus Interaction, 1999) is the absence of a conception within 12 months of unprotected intercourse. The main cause of an immunological fertility disorder is the formation of antibodies directed against spermatozoa antigens. Anti-spermatozoa antibodies exert heterogeneous effects on the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize. The inhibiting effect of anti-spermatozoa antibodies on the motility of spermatozoa by binding to their surface and by agglutinating processes is well-known (Zouari R et al: Fertil Steril (1993) 59, 606–12). The penetration of the spermatozoa into the cervical mucus is impaired by the presence of anti-spermatozoa antibodies in the seminal plasma and/or in the cervical mucus (Eggert- Kruse W et al: Hum Reprod (1993) 8, 1025–31). Anti-spermatozoa antibodies negatively influence the capacitation and the acrosome reaction of spermatozoa and thereby impede the interaction of the spermatozoa with the oocyte (Francavilla F et al: Front Biosci (1999): 1;4:9–25; Bohring C et al.: Hum Reprod (2001) 7:113–8). The interaction of the spermatozoon with the oocyte and the subsequent binding to and penetration of the zona pellucida may be inhibited by anti-spermatozoa antibodies. The following fusion of the oocyte and a spermatozoon may also be impaired by the presence of anti-spermatozoa antibodies (Mazumdar S et al.: Fertil Steril (1998) 70, 799–810; Kutteh WH: Hum Reprod, (1999) 14, 2426–9). According to Crosignani et al. (Crosignani et al.: PG et al.: Hum Reprod (1998) 13, 2025–32) the rate of pregnancies in couples with anti-spermatozoa antibodies on the part of the man or the woman are 38% lower compared to the control groups. Furthermore an influence on the implantation and on the early embryological development could be confirmed. An association of anti-spermatozoa antibodies and miscarriages is discussed. The frequency of anti-spermatozoa antibodies in infertile couples amounts to 20% (Lahteenmaki A et al.: Hum Reprod (1995) 10, 2824–28; Nagy ZP et al.: Hum Reprod (1995) 10, 1775–80). Anti-spermatozoa antibodies may occur dissolved in the ejaculate or bound to the surface of spermatozoa. Anti-spermatozoa antibodies may be found in men and in women (Clarke GN et al.: Am J Reprod Immunol Microbiol (1985) 7, 143–7). In women anti-spermatozoa antibodies may be found in cervical mucus, oviduct liquid and follicular liquid. Men having more than 50% of their spermatozoa coated with anti-spermatozoa antibodies show a conspicuously reduced rate of fertility (Abshagen K et al.: Fertil Steril (1998) 70, 355–6).