Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Fluorimetric Techniques for the Assessment of Sperm Membranes
Published on: November 28, 2018
In vitro and in vivo studies evaluating antisemen antibodies as a potential spermicidal agent in hamsters
De-Yu Chen1, Li-Min Liu1, Qing-Dong Xie1
1Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China 515041.
Objective:
To determine the spermicidal activity of antisemen antibodies in the hamster model.
Design:
Prospective, controlled study.
Setting:
Advanced preclinical sciences center.
Animal(S):
Subgroups of 10 and 14 golden hamsters.
Intervention(S):
Ex vitro and in vivo treatment of sperm with antisemen antibodies or normal rabbit serum.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The EC(50) value of antisemen antibodies, the time required for 50% motility loss of progressively motile spermatozoa exposed to antisemen antibodies, the average sperm mitochondrion fluorescence intensity, the rate of fertilization, and the scoring of histologic changes in the hamster vaginal tissue.
Result(S):
The EC(50) value of antisemen antibodies was found 70 microg/mL, and the time required for 50% motility loss of progressively motile spermatozoa exposed to antisemen antibodies (at 70 microg/mL) was 5 minutes; for the experimental and control groups, the average fluorescence intensities of sperm mitochondria were respectively 180.28 +/- 82.24 and 309.74 +/- 148.37, the fertilization rates in vitro were 0.09% and 45%, the rates of fertilization with intrauterine sperm injection were 0 and 15.0%. There was a significant difference between two groups. None of the four hamsters that received antisemen antibodies in gel-polyoxyl-40-stearate had epithelial disruption characteristic of inflammation.
Conclusion(S):
Antisemen antibodies possess appreciable spermicidal potential, which may be explored as an effective constituent of spermicide.
