[Effect of heavy metals on immune reactions in patients with infertility]

Heavy metals can negatively influence reproduction because in sensitive persons they are able to alter the immune reactions including autoantibodies production. The altered immune reaction can then cause infertility.

The in vitro lymphocyte reaction after stimulation with metals, the production of interferon (IFN-gamma) and antisperm antibodies in supernatants after lymphocyte stimulation in patients with infertility and with the antisperm antibodies present in their serum were investigated. The cause of antisperm antibodies presence was not determined. The diagnosis of metal intolerance was performed by the proliferation method modified for metals (Melisa). In supernatants of tissue cultures of lymphocytes without the antigen stimulation and after stimulation with mercury chloride, the in vitro production of gamma interferon and antisperm antibodies was studied by Elisa. More than 50% of patients did not tolerate mercury, iron, aluminium and silver. When the lymphocyte reaction was compared in patients with and without mercury intolerance we found that lymphocytes of patients with mercury intolerance produced less gamma interferon and more antisperm antibodies in supernatants after mercury stimulation of lymphocytes.

In patients with metal intolerance diagnosed by the Melisa test, metal ions released from the dental materials can represent a factor, that does not cause infertility but is able to influence it negatively.