Summary
The study of immunologic factors in infertility is in its infancy, and many questions remain to be answered. Further studies using newer techniques are needed to elucidate the actual contributions of immune mechanisms to infertility. Understanding the role of immunologic factors should lead to more effective treatment of patients whose infertility is immunologic in etiology.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Haas GG, Cines DB, Schreiber AD: Immunologic infertility: identification of patients with antisperm antibody. N Engl J Med 1980;303:722–727
Jones WR: Immunization against spermatozoal antigens.In Immunological Fertility Regulation. Oxford, Blackwell Scientific, 1982, pp 90–146
O'Rand MG. Inhibition of fertility and sperm-zona binding by antiserum to the rabbit sperm membrane auto-antigen RSA-1. Biol Reprod 1981;25:621–628
Tung KSK, Okada A, Yanagimachi R: Sperm auto-antigens and fertilization. I. Effects of antisperm antibodies on rouleaux formation, viability and acrosome reaction of guinea pig sperm. Biol Reprod 1980;23:877–886
Saling PM, Irons G, Waibel R. Mouse sperm antigens that participate in fertilization. I. Inhibition of sperm fusion with the egg plasma membrane using monoclonal antibodies. Biol Reprod 1985;33:515–526
Saling PM, Lakoski KA: Mouse sperm antigens that participate in fertilization. Inhibition of sperm penetration through the zona pellucida using monoclonal antibodies. Biol Reprod 1985;33:527–536
Saling PM, Waibel R: Mouse sperm antigens that participate in fertilization. III. Passive immunization with a single monoclonal antisperm antibody inhibits pregnancy and fertilization in vivo. Biol Reprod 1985;33:537–544
Ayvaliotis B, Bronson R, Rosenfeld D, Cooper G: Conception rates in couples where autoimmunity to sperm is detected. Fertil Steril 1985;43:739–742
Jones WR: Immunologic infertility—fact or fiction? Fertil Steril 1980;33:577–586
Kamada M, Daitoh T, Hasebe H, Irahara M, Yamano S, Mori T: Blocking of human fertilization in vitro by sera with sperm. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1985;153:328–331
Bronson RA, Cooper G, Rosenfeld D: Ability of antibodybound human sperm to penetrate zona-free hamster ova in vitro. Fertil Steril 1981;36:778–783
Menge AC, Black CS: Effects of antisera on human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster ova. Fertil Steril 1979;32:214–218
Dor J, Rudak E, Aitken RJ: Antisperm antibodies: Their effect on the process of fertilization studied in vitro. Fertil Steril 1981;35:535–541
Bronson RA, Cooper GW, Rosenfeld DL: Sperm specific isoantibodies and autoantibodies inhibit the binding of human sperm to the human zona pellucida. Fertil Steril 1982;38:724–729
Clarke GN, Lopata A, McBain JC, Baker WG, Johnston WIH: Effect of sperm antibodies in males on in vitro fertilization (IVF). Am J Reprod Immunol Microbiol 1985;8:62–66
Mandelbaum SL, Diamond MP, DeCherney AH: Relationship of antisperm antibodies to oocyte fertilization and cleavage in in vitro fertilization (submitted for publication)
Bronson R, Cooper G, Rosenfeld D: Membrane-bound sperm-specific antibodies: their role in infertility.In Bioregulators in Reproduction, H Vogel, G Jagiello (eds). New York, Academic Press, 1981, pp 521–527
Bronson RA, Cooper GW, Rosenfeld DL: Autoimmunity to spermatozoa: Effect on sperm penetration of cervical mucus as reflected by postcoital testing. Fertil Steril 1984;41:609–614
Marcus ZH, Soffer Y, Ben-David A, Peleg S, Nebel L: Studies on sperm antigenicity. I. Delayed hypersensitivity to spermatozoa. Eur J Immunol 1973;3:75–78
Mumford DM, Barsates PB, Ball KD, Gordon HL: Microlymphocyte transformation studies with seminal antigen. I. Technique and patterns of responsiveness to autologous and allogeneic semen from normal and infertile male subjects. J Urol 1971;105:858–862
Nagarkatt RS, Rao SS: Cell-mediated immunity to homologous spermatozoa following vasectomy in the human male. Clin Exp Immunol 1976;26:239–242
McShane PM, Schiff I, Trentham DE: Cellular immunity to sperm in infertile women. JAMA 1985;253:3555–3558
Soffer Y, Marcus ZH, Bukovsky I, Caspi E: Immunological factors and post-coital tests in unexplained infertility. In J Fert 1976;121:89–95
Tait BD, Barrie JU, Johnston I, Morris PJ: Cellular immunity to lymphocyte antigens in human infertility. Fertil Steril 1976;27:389–396
Mettler L, Schirwani D: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in female sterility. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1975;121:117–120
Shivers CA, Dudkiewicz AB, Franklin LE, Fussell EN: Inhibition of sperm-egg interaction by specific antibody. Science 1972;178:1211–1213
Shivers CA, Dunbar BS: Autoantibodies to zona pellucida: A possible cause for infertility in women. Science 1977;197:1082–1084
Mori T, Nishimoto T, Kitagawa M, Noda Y, Nishimura T, Oikawa T: Possible presence of autoantibodies to zona pellucida in infertile women. Experientia 1978;34:797–799
Aitken RJ, Rudak EA, Richardson DW, Dor J, Djahanbahkch O, Templeton AA: The influence of anti-zona and anti-sperm antibodies on sperm-egg interactions. J Reprod Fert 1981;62:597–606
Tsunoda Y, Chang MC: Effects of antisera on fertilization of mouse, rat and hamster egg. Biol Repord 1978;18:468–474
Trounson AO, Shivers CA, McMaster R, Lopata A: Inhibition of sperm binding and fertilization of human ova by antibody to porcine zona pellucida and human sera. Arch Androl 1980;4:29
Lee CG, Wong E, Teh CZ, Nishizawa Y: Generation of mouse oocyte monoclonal antibodies on in vitro fertilization. J Reprod Immunol 1985;7:3–13
Sacco AG, Subramanian MG, Yurewicz EC, DeMayo FJ, Dukelow WR: Heteroimmunization of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) with a purified porcine zona antigen (PPZA): Immune response and biologic activity of antiserum. Fertil Steril 1983;39:350–358
Aitken RJ, Richardson DW: Immunization against zona pellucida antigens.In Immunological Aspects of Reproduction and Fertility Control, JP Hearn (ed). Baltimore, University Park Press, 1980, pp 173–201
Sacco AG, Moghissi KS: Anti-zona pellucida activity in human sera. Fertil Steril 1979;31:503–506
Kurachi H, Wakimoto H, Sakumeto T, Aono T, Kurachi K: Specific antibodies to porcine zona pellucida detected by quantitative radioimmunoassay in both fertile and infertile women. Fertil Steril 1984;41:265–269
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mandelbaum, S.L., Diamond, M.P. & DeCherney, A.H. Immunology of the sperm-egg interaction. J Assist Reprod Genet 3, 279–283 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01133387
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01133387