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Carbohydrate moieties on sperm surface: physiological relevance

M Kurpisz1, N J Alexander

  • 1Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan.

Fertility and Sterility
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
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Molecular mimicry between sperm and bacteria, involving shared carbohydrate epitopes, can trigger autoimmune responses. Some antisperm antibodies strongly affect sperm function, but not all inhibit penetration in a specific test.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Antisperm antibodies can cause infertility.
  • Cross-reactivity of antibodies with non-sperm cells is poorly understood.
  • Molecular mimicry is a potential mechanism for autoimmune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate cross-reactivity of mouse monoclonal antisperm antibodies with somatic cells and bacteria.
  • Identify specific antigenic determinants responsible for cross-reactions.
  • Correlate antibody function with determinant recognition.

Main Methods:

  • Monoclonal antibody (mAb) activity assessed using radioimmunoassay (RIA).
  • Sperm epitopic characterization via lectin-blocking and sugar competitive assays.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Functional assays included sperm agglutination, immobilization, and zona-free penetration tests.

    • Main Results:

    • Extensive cross-reactivity observed between sperm, erythrocytes, and bacteria, primarily to carbohydrate epitopes (fucose, galactose, mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine).
    • Approximately 50% of tested mAbs interfered with sperm agglutination, immobilization, and zona-free penetration.
    • Bacterial deglycosylated lipopolysaccharides did not show cross-reactivity.

    Conclusions:

    • Sperm carbohydrates likely induce autoimmune reactions by mimicking determinants on other cells and pathogens.
    • Molecular mimicry between bacteria and sperm is a significant factor in antisperm immunological reactions.
    • Antisperm mAbs targeting glycosylated epitopes strongly mediated agglutination/immobilization, but this did not correlate with inhibition in the zona-free penetration assay, suggesting a non-oligosaccharide basis for that specific function.