Characterization of a sperm-specific antigen in inbred strains of rats

Rat sperm have a cell surface autoantigen which is common to at least ten inbred strains. The expression of this antigen is quantitatively different, and among the strains tested, the BN strain appears to have the largest amount. The sperm of the B13 strain were examined in detail for a unique sperm antigen, because this strain is heterozygous for genes influencing defects in growth and development which may be such unique antigen when tested by a radioactive double antibody technique.