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Immunogenicity of human spermatozoa

Abstract

Investigation and experimental design of the study was basically aimed at developing insight into the antigenicity of spermatozoa-associated proteins. Apart from studying the natural antigenicity of washed whole spermatozoa, their immunogenicity was also demonstrated _in vitro_. The whole live spermatozoa were immobilized and agglutinated _in vitro_ by the antibodies they induced in the laboratory model - a female rabbit. A regular immunization routine induced a high titre of antisperm polyclonal antibodies. To prepare a spermatozoa specific antigen which will not produce a cross-reacting antibody against other human tissues, only the motile and live spermatozoa were selected for antigen preparation. In investigation the laboratory-bred female rabbits were used as the bioactive system of production of antisperm antibody. Agglutination of whole spermatozoa has been observed on slides. The technique though simple is highly eloquent; clumping of spermatozoa confirms the existence of antisperm antibodies in the serum under examination. The results show that nature and pattern of immobilization of active motile spermatozoa are different as observed in different graphs of immobilization. The variation in spermatozoal population in antigen distribution on individual spermatozoa is reflected in different patterns of agglutination

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