[Immunological studies on cervical mucus in women with unexplained infertility]

The author tried to make clear some physiological and pathological aspects of immunological states of human cervical mucus in two groups of women: 27 unexplained infertile women (group A) and 45 normal women whose husbands were azoospermic (group B). The following data were obtained. 1. IgG and IgA concentrations in the cervical mucus extracts (CME) were 15-45 mg/dl and 5-7 mg/dl, respectively, calculated to be approximately 2-4% of the serum levels. 2. IgG and IgA levels were significantly (p less than 0.01) elevated in group A compared to those in group B. 3. Secretory IgA was more elevated in group A (24.4 mg/dl) than that in group B (13.2 mg/dl). 4. IgM was detected in 11.1% in group A and in none in group B. 5. A complementary activity was observed in all the fresh CME judging from 1-9 (mostly 1-3) CH50 units. This activity tended to be higher in group A than in group B. 6. C3 proactivator was detected in 30% of the specimens, but C4 was found only in one case, suggesting the physiological importance of the alternative pathway than the classical pathway at the site of the cervix. 7. Both in sperm agglutination and sperm immobilization tests, higher positive incidence were obtained in group A than in group B. Briefly the conclusion of this study was that the cervical mucus was confirmed to have sufficient immunological elements and to show local immunity to sperm in vitro in some unexplained infertile women.