Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Immunological aspects of subfertility

W Eggert-Kruse1, G Rohr, S Böckem-Hellwig

  • 1Department of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Women's Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

International Journal of Andrology
|December 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Antisperm antibodies (ASA) in serum do not impact male fertility. However, ASA in semen, especially IgA class, significantly hinders sperm-cervical mucus penetration and reduces fertility prognosis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The role of environment in shaping the genetic diversity of the subalpine mosquito, Aedes rusticus (Diptera, Culicidae).

Molecular ecology·2003
Same author

Acute psychiatric admission and menstrual cycle phase in women with schizophrenia.

Archives of women's mental health·2003
Same author

Vienna Transdanube Aging "VITA": study design, recruitment strategies and level of participation.

Journal of neural transmission. Supplementum·2002
Same author

Genetic differentiation of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) using microsatellite markers.

Molecular ecology·2002
Same author

Temporal genetic variation in Aedes aegypti populations in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).

Heredity·2002
Same author

[Recommendations for oral contraception. 26th Meeting of the "Zurich Discussion Circle" March 2001].

Gynakologisch-geburtshilfliche Rundschau·2002

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive immunology
  • Human fertility studies

Background:

  • Antisperm antibodies (ASA) are implicated in infertility, but their precise role remains debated.
  • Previous research has yielded conflicting results regarding the association between ASA and fertility outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between ASA in serum and semen with semen quality and fertility in subfertile couples.
  • To determine the impact of different ASA classes and locations on sperm-cervical mucus interaction and overall fertility prognosis.

Main Methods:

  • Semen quality was assessed using standard sperm analysis and sperm-cervical mucus (CM) interaction tests (in vivo and in vitro).
  • ASA presence in serum and semen was determined using three distinct analytical methods.
  • Fertility prognosis was evaluated in prospective studies.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • No significant correlation was found between serum ASA and semen quality or fertility in subfertile individuals.
  • Circulating ASA in serum did not demonstrate an association with reduced fertility in prospective analyses.
  • ASA localized in semen, particularly IgA class antibodies, significantly impaired sperm-CM penetration and negatively affected fertility prognosis.
  • ASA within cervical mucus were identified as a severe infertility factor, though rare.

Conclusions:

  • Serum ASA levels are not a reliable indicator of male infertility or reduced fertility.
  • The presence of ASA in semen, especially IgA, is a significant factor negatively impacting fertility by impeding sperm-cervical mucus interaction.
  • ASA in cervical mucus represent a rare but severe cause of infertility.