Antibodies to human seminal plasma inhibin cause sperm agglutination and impairment of cervical mucus penetration and sperm-egg attachment

Abstract

Inhibin isolated from human seminal plasma which has 94 amino acids has been shown to be structurally similar to a sperm coating antigen of prostatic origin. Specific antibodies generated against this peptide caused agglutination of human sperm. Using FITC-labeled antibody, antigen was localized on the post-acrosomal head region of sperm. Antiserum to inhibin could also impair the penetration of human spermatozoa into cervical mucus. After 10 and 30 minutes, the depth and density of penetration as well as the motility of the sperm were inhibited. The treatment of sperm with antiserum to inhibin caused an inhibition of sperm attachment to the egg as well as inhibition of penetration.

Effect of antibodies to human seminal plasma inhibin on spermatogenesis and sperm agglutination in adult male rats

“…In addition, As hSPI also caused impairment of spermatogenesis, which ultimately resulted in interference of fertility. This supports our earlier in vitro results; we observed that As hSPI caused agglutination of ejaculated human spermatozoa and prevented spermatozoa from penetrating cervical mucus and inhibited sperm+gg interaction (Bandivdekar et al, 1987). An increase in seminal vesicle weight after 8 weeks of treatment was seen, which could possibly be due to transient change in androgen levels.…”

“…Attempts have been made to isolate and purify biochemically different antigens from human sperm, seminal plasma, and testes and to investigate their immunologic effect on reproduction in female animals (reviewed by Naz, 1988). hSPI has been demonstrated to be a sperm-coating antigen (Johansson et al, 1984;Bandivdekar et al, 1987Bandivdekar et al, , 1988. The data obtained in the present study demonstrate for the first time the in vitro effect of As hSPI on rat epididymal sperm agglutination.…”

Morphometric and ultrastructural studies on the rat testis following administration of antiserum to human seminal plasma inhibin

“…Estimation of DSP was calculated as described earlier (Gopalkrishnan et al, 1987). Estimation of DSP was calculated as described earlier (Gopalkrishnan et al, 1987).…”

“…Tubules measuring 1-2 mm length were dissected, fixed, processed and embedded in araldite. Estimation of DSP was calculated as described earlier (Gopalkrishnan et al, 1987).…”

“…Inhibin isolated from human seminal plasma (Thakur et al, 1981;Sheth et al, 1984) has been shown to function similarly to sperm coating antigens (Johanson et al, 1984). Antiserum to this human seminal plasma inhibin (AshSPI) was shown to cause sperm agglutination and impair-ment of cervical mucus penetration and spermegg attachment (Bandivdekar et al, 1987). Previous studies have shown that inhibin has an importance in the physiological function of spermatozoa.…”