FLOW CYTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF BINDING OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES TO HUMAN SPERMATOZOA

Although several monoclonal antibodies to sperm antigens are available , only few systematical reports on the appearance of distinct antibody binding structures in spermatozoa of infertile patients are available . We studied the binding frequency of six monoclonal antibodies (TUS-1 , -2, -10, -17, -19, -20) by means of a flow cytometer in different se men samples and their possible relationship to other sperm parameters, in particular to the motility parameters as determined by computer-as sisted semen analysis. The percentage of vital spermatozoa binding the different antibodies was 21.5% (TUS-2) to 52.1% (TUS-20). The percent age binding was higher in samples with normozoospermia than in those w ith oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia. A significant correlation occurred between sperm concentration and the percentage of spermatozoa stained by TUS-2 and TUS-17; between motile spermatozoa and those binding TUS- 17 and TUS-20; the velocity average path and those binding TOS-17; an inverse correlation occurred between the morphologically-abnormal sper matozoa and those binding TUS-20; an inverse correlation between TUS-1 7 and acrosin. We conclude from our results that although the antigens of the antibodies concerned are not yet characterized, the determinat ion of antibody binding will give additional information on the functi onal status during capacitation and acrosome reaction of spermatozoa.