Blot-immunobinding test for the detection of anti-sperm antibodies.

ABSTRACT

A blot-immunobinding test was used to detect anti-sperm antibodies in human sera and to identify the corresponding auto- or iso-antigens on human sperm. A high proportion of sera at a 1100 dilution from fertile persons, as well as infertile patients, contains antibodies reactive with sperm. This phenomenon might be physiological. At 12,000 dilution, a higher binding capacity was detected in the sera from infertile groups, but a few fertile persons were also positive. Antibodies to a single antigenic determinant with Mr of approximately 14,000 were found in a significantly higher proportion among males with unexplained infertility.