ANTIBODIES TO HUMAN SEMINAL PLASMA INHIBIN ADVERSELY AFFECT SPERM FUNCTION PARAMETERS

Polyclonal antibodies to intact inhibin (94 amino acids, R-94, 10.5 kD a) and its sequence specific synthetic fragments (R-9, R-17) were eval uated for their effect on various physical and biochemical parameters of sperm function. Intact inhibit had maximum deleterious effect on qu antitative motility and mean forward progression of spermatozoa. Antib odies had no effect on sperm fructolysis and sperm nuclear chromatin d econdensation reaction. Sperm plasma membrane was damaged in antibodie s treated spermatozoa as evidenced by hypoosmotic swelling test and sp erm lipid peroxidation reaction.