RESUMEN
One hundred and fifteen infertile men were examined for circulating spermagglutinating antibodies by the Kibrick spermagglutination test; thirty-three (28%) were found to have positive agglutination titers--1:32 or more in thirteen samples. This high figure may be explained by the high incidence of genital tract infection and of urinary schistosomiasis in our study group. Of the 33 men who demonstrated autoantibodies in their sera, 21 had microscopic agglutination of more than 10%. There was a positive correlation between the serum autoantibody titer and spermagglutination. Eight cases (6.9%) of sperm-immobilizing antibodies were found.
Asunto(s)
Formación de Anticuerpos , Infertilidad Masculina/etiología , Aglutinación Espermática , Autoanticuerpos/análisis , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
Blood and semen samples were obtained from 13 men who had self-agglutination of spermatozoa and spermatozoal antibodies in their sera. The seminal plasma of these men produced spermatozoal immobilization and agglutination when added to normal semen from healthy men. Analysis of the seminal plasma samples showed that immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were higher in the study group than in the control subjects. They contained IgA and complements C3 and C4, whereas only 2 of 15 samples from normal men contained IgA, and only one case contained C3 and C4. IgM was detected in 10 samples of the study group and in one sample of the control group. IgG levels in the blood of the study group were significantly higher than those in the blood of control subjects. Therefore, the immunoglobulins which probably play a role in the mechanism of autoagglutination and immobilization of spermatozoa are IgG, IgA, and IgM, and complements C3 and C4.