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Interaction between human cervical mucus and sperm surface antibodies
Abstract:
The immunobead test was used to study the immunoglobulin class of antibodies on sperm before and after penetration through a microcolumn of cervical mucus. Sixteen men with positive sperm antibodies (positive sperm immobilization test) and sperm that penetrated cervical mucus in prior tests were selected for study. However, at the time of study, sperm from seven subjects could not be recovered from the microcolumn. The nine subjects from whom motile sperm were obtained after passage through the column had better sperm mucus penetration tests, lower proportions of sperm binding to anti-IgA immunobeads, and higher proportions of sperm with tail-tip-only binding. Sperm recovered after penetration through the mucus microcolumn displayed a greatly reduced binding to anti-IgA immunobeads in all nine subjects, whereas similar reductions in anti-IgG binding occurred only in four subjects. These results confirm that IgA and sperm-head-directed antibodies are more important than IgG and sperm tail-tip-directed antibodies in impairing sperm penetration of cervical mucus.
Insights
Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and sperm-head antibodies significantly impair sperm
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Immunology
- Sperm-Antibody Interactions
Background:
- Sperm antibodies can affect male fertility.
- The role of specific immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG) in sperm-cervical mucus penetration is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunoglobulin class of antibodies on sperm before and after penetrating cervical mucus.
- To determine the impact of IgA and IgG antibodies on sperm function and cervical mucus penetration.
Main Methods:
- Immunobead test to detect sperm-bound antibodies (IgA, IgG).
- Cervical mucus microcolumn penetration assay.
- Analysis of sperm recovered after mucus penetration.
Main Results:
- Sperm recovered after mucus penetration showed significantly reduced IgA binding.
- Reduced IgG binding was observed in fewer subjects compared to IgA.
- Sperm with tail-tip-only binding and better penetration correlated with lower IgA binding.
Conclusions:
- IgA antibodies, particularly those directed against the sperm head, are critically involved in impairing sperm penetration of cervical mucus.
- IgG antibodies and tail-directed antibodies play a lesser role in this impairment.