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Effects of antibodies to sperm surface fertilization antigen-1 on human sperm-zona pellucida interaction
R K Naz1, C Brazil, J W Overstreet
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of antibodies to well-defined sperm surface antigens (the fertilization antigen [FA-1] and germ-cell antigen [GA-1]) and nuclear antigen (protamine) on human sperm-zona interaction.
Design:
Number of total and acrosome-reacted human sperm bound to the human zona pellucida and the sperm movement characteristics assessed by computer-aided sperm analysis were evaluated after incubation of sperm with the antibodies.
Setting:
Academic research environment approved by the Institute Review Board.
Patients:
Human oocytes were obtained from ovaries removed at surgery. Semen from fertile donors was used in all assays.
Interventions:
Human oocytes were stored in salt solution at -80 degrees C until used. Spermatozoa were treated with the antibodies to various sperm antigens.
Main Outcome Measures:
Total and acrosome-reacted sperm bound to zona pellucida and sperm movement characteristics were evaluated after 3 to 5 hours of incubation of the antibodies with human sperm.
Results:
Anti-FA-1 antibodies significantly reduced human sperm fusion with zona-free hamster oocytes and sperm binding to the human zona pellucida but did not affect binding of acrosome-reacted sperm and sperm movement characteristics. Anti-GA-1 and antiprotamine antibodies did not affect sperm-oocyte interaction, acrosomal reaction, or sperm motility.
Conclusions:
Antibodies to FA-1 but not to GA-1 and protamine inhibit human sperm-zona interaction.