Sperm artificially exposed to antisperm antibodies show altered deoxyribonucleic acid

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integr ity after exposure to antisperm antibodies. Methods: Donor semen were divided and exposed to sera containing Igc,IgA, a nd IgM antisperm antibodies. Untreated portions served as the control. Afte r incubation (I hr; 23 degrees C), the sperm were centrifuge-washed, resusp ended, and incubated (23 degrees C) for 2, 5, 7, or 9 days. Acridine orange staining and kinematic parameters were measured. The sentinel (17q21 from D17S855) and beta-globin genes were amplified and analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Results: Sperm preexposed to antisperm antibodies had deleted sentinel gene on days 7 and 9. The beta-globin gene was intact. There were no difference s in acridine orange staining. Conclusions: Sperm artificially exposed to antisperm antibodies resulted in a subtle deletion of genetic material. The DNA alteration process was slow and was undetectable at the gross level. More studies are needed to confir m the findings and determine whether DNA repair mechanisms can reverse the damage.