Related Experiment Videos
Assisted reproductive technologies may obviate apparent immunologic infertility
D Franken1, M L Windt, T Oosthuizen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa.
Andrologia
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Sperm autoantibodies may not cause absolute infertility. Assisted reproductive technologies can help overcome reduced sperm-zona binding, enabling pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Human Reproduction
Background:
- Spermatozoal autoantibodies are linked to decreased natural fertilization.
- Subfertile men often present with positive spermatozoal autoantibody tests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of spermatozoal autoantibodies on sperm-zona pellucida binding.
- To assess the efficacy of assisted reproductive technologies in cases of spermatozoal autoantibodies.
Main Methods:
- Direct immunobead test to detect spermatozoal autoantibodies.
- Hemizona assay to quantify sperm-zona pellucida tight binding.
- Comparison between subfertile males and a fertile control.
Main Results:
- Subfertile males with spermatozoal autoantibodies showed significantly reduced sperm-zona pellucida binding (19.5 +/- 8) compared to fertile controls (77.1 +/- 49).
- Seven of nine couples achieved successful fertilization via intrauterine insemination or gamete intrafallopian tube transfer.
- One couple conceived naturally.
Conclusions:
- Spermatozoal autoantibodies may not be an absolute indicator of infertility.
- Assisted reproductive technologies can overcome reduced sperm-zona binding.
- Caution is advised when associating spermatozoal autoantibodies with absolute infertility.