Influence of antisperm antibodies on the acrosome reaction as determined by flow cytometry

Objective: To evaluate the influence of antisperm antibodies on the acrosom e, reaction (AR). Design: Clinical study. Setting: University of Marburg, Department of Andrology, Clinical Training Center of the European Academy of Andrology. Patient(s): Spermatozoa from a pool of healthy donors were incubated with 3 0 seminal plasma samples from infertile men containing antisperm antibodies ; they were compared to a control group of 10 samples without antisperm ant ibodies and five samples with buffer only. Intervention(s): The spontaneous acrosome reaction (SAR) and the induced ac rosome reaction (JAR) by calcium ionophore A23187 were observed and determi ned by means of a flow cytometer. Flow cytometric double-staining estimates of acrosomal integrity were determined by using a monoclonal antibody (TUS 19), marked with a secondary fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled antibody. Cell viability was determined by counterstaining with propidium iodide (PI) . Main Outcome Measure(s): Number of acrosome reacted spermatozoa. Result(s): The spermatozoa treated with antisperm antibodies showed signifi cantly higher SAR and JAR responses than the control group. Conclusion(s): Some of the antisperm antibodies from individual patients ar e able to enhance the acrosome reaction in donor sperm, but none of them ap peared to inhibit acrosome reaction. (C) 2001 by American Society for Repro ductive Medicine.