Objective: To investigate the influence of sera and peritoneal fluids (PFs) from fertile and infertile women on the binding of antisperm antibodies to the surface of spermatozoa.
Design: The immunoglobulin (Ig) G antisperm antibodies binding to the surface of liver spermatozoa was evaluated after their incubation in antisperm antibodies-positive serum from an infertile male in the presence and absence of female sera or PFs.
Setting: Russian Scientific Center for Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Perinatology.
Patient(s): Serum and PF samples from fertile and infertile women; antisperm antibodies-positive serum from infertile men; high-quality fresh semen from healthy donors.
Intervention(s): Serum samples were obtained from fertile and infertile women and from infertile men. Peritoneal fluids were collected during routine laparoscopy.
Main outcome measure(s): The proportion of spermatozoa positive for IgG antibodies and the quantity of antisperm antibodies on the sperm surface measured by flow cytometry (FCM).
Result(s): The addition of sera from fertile or infertile women with endometriosis or pelvic adhesion disease to an IgG antisperm antibodies-positive male serum resulted in significant inhibition of the antisperm antibodies binding to the sperm surface.
Conclusion(s): Sera of fertile as well as infertile woman contain factors that block IgG antisperm antibodies binding to the surface of live spermatozoa.