Induction and measurement of antisperm antibody responses in vitro

Using the Mishell and Dutton culture system an assay was developed for eliciting and quantifying sperm surface antigen (SSA)-specific immune responses in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from sexually inexperienced and experienced women that were antisperm antibody (ASA) negative gave rise to a plaque-forming cell (PFC) response of similar magnitude (1,362 and 1,254 PFC/culture, respectively). PBMC from women that were ASA positive had lower PFC responses if cervical mucous antibodies were detected along with circulating antibodies (876 PFC/culture) than if they were not detected (1,512 PFC/culture). Limit dilution analysis was used to demonstrate that the level of the anticipated antibody response is regulated by T helper cell activity. The results of this investigation suggest that the antibody response to SSA is governed at least in part by both the secretory immune system and circulating T helper cells.