[Detection and potential function of anti-FSH antibodies in patients with spermatogenesis dysfunction]

To detect the anti-FSH antibody using ELISA, and further probe into the role of anti-FSH in infertile patients.

The anti-FSH antibody was detected using ELISA in the serum of patients with spermatogenesis dysfunction, of infertile patients with normal sperm density and motility, and of normal fertile males.

The positive rate of anti-FSH antibody in the patients with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia [22.4% (22/98)] was significantly higher than that in the normal fertile [4% (2/50)] (P < 0.05) and that in the infertile patients with normal sperm density and motility [6.7% (2/30)] (P < 0.05). The positive rate of anti-FSH antibody in the patients with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia was lower than that in the patients with azoospermia [54.5% (12/22)] (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the positive rate between the normal control and the sterile males with normal sperm density and motility.

The anti-FSH antibody may be an important factor to cause spermatogenesis dysfunction by combining FSH to form immune compound and depress the activation of FSH.