Monoclonal antibody to human sperm acrosomal protein

A new monoclonal antibody designated Hs-14 was generated after immunization of BALB/c mice with the acid extract of human sperm. In indirect immunoflu orescence Hs-14 mAb binds to the acrosome of permeabilized sperm cells and consequently recognizes some intra-acrosomal protein. Western blotting anal ysis revealed that under non-reducing conditions the Hs-14 mAb detects a pr otein with a molecular mass of 220 kDa, Under reducing conditions the Hs-14 recognizes several peptide bands within the range from 55 kDa to 110 kDa, Beside human sperm the antibody positively reacts also with sperm of some o ther mammalian species. Using Hs-14 mAb it is possible to evaluate the acro somal integrity of spermatozoa and to reveal sperm pathology.