Immunochemical analysis of guinea pig sperm autoantigens

Autoantibodies raised in guinea pigs (GP) by hyperimmunization with epididymal sperm recognize antigens present on the plasma membrane of intact sperm and antigens associated with acrosome-reacted sperm. Plasma membrane autoantigens were characterized by SDS-PAGE analysis of immune precipitates from detergent extracts of radiolabeled epididymal sperm. Three major protein bands with approximate molecular weights (MW) of 69,000, 62,000 and 40,000 daltons were exhibited. Galactose oxidase and periodate oxidation followed by tritiation revealed two major plasma membrane glycoprotein autoantigens with MWs of 35,000 and 32,000 daltons and one sialoglycoprotein of 34,000 daltons. Antigenic molecules of similar MW were also detected by autoantisera to guinea pig testicular homogenates. Immune precipitates of radiolabeled detergent extracts of acrosome-reacted sperm analyzed by SDS-PAGE exhibited two major carbohydrate-containing peaks, one with a MW of approximately 42,000 daltons and one of 6,000 daltons. Since the 6,000 dalton peak was immunoprecipitated from the organic phase of both chloroform:methanol 2:1 and n-butanol extracts, the antigen may be a glycolipid. The possible existence of glycolipid autoantigen in GP sperm was further supported by the reaction in a solid phase radioimmunoassay of autoantibodies to GP sperm with glycolipid extracts from GP testis. This study demonstrates the presence of multiple autoantigenic specificities in the sperm-plasma membrane, acrosome-reacted sperm and testis of guinea pigs. It also demonstrates for the first time glycolipid autoantigens in testis and sperm.