[Sperm antibodies and immunologic intolerance to metals in infertile couples]

Verification of the hypothesis of a relationship between the presence of antibodies against sperm cells and immunological reactivity to some metals in infertile couples by the MELISA test.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Charles University and Faculty Hospital, Plzen.

From 23 female patients and 21 men (a total of 44 subjects treated for infertility) with confirmed serum antibodies against sperm cells the authors isolated lymphocytyes from the peripheral blood stream, divided them into individual cultures and investigated them by the MELISA test using different metal compounds.

The outcome of the MELISA test are values of the stimulation index (SI) by means of which the authors investigated the reactivity of the organism to the given metal. Special attention was devoted to compounds of organic and inorganic mercury. The SI values were subsequently compared with different data obtained from a detailed anamnestic questionnaire which was focused specially on contact with metals and on allergic reactions. In the investigated group of patients the authors detected a positive immune reactivity to inorganic mercury, Ag, Al, Fe. In some subjects they found a very high positive immune reactivity to inorganic mercury, Ni, Al, Cd and Ti. The control groups were formed by healthy fertile subjects without antibodies against sperm cells and with physiological SI values.

The authors did not prove a direct relationship between the intensity of the laboratory reactivity to metals and the presence of antibodies against sperm cells which cause deterioration of fertility. An exogenous load of metals could in case of genetic predisposition be only one of the factors which participate in the formation of antibodies against sperm cells. The investigation proved that its is not essential, contrary to the view of many stomatologists, to eliminate metal compounds completely from dental practice.