• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 1994

With the indirect immunobead antisperm antibody test(IBT) a prospective study was conducted to evaluate the immune status of 38 men before and after vasovasostomy. The pregnancy and postoperative semen analysis were evaluated. The results were compared between pregnant (n=14) and non-pregnant(n=24) group. The postoperative sperm motility was inversely correlated with the titer of the preoperative and postoperative IgG(p<0.01). The preoperative and postoperative titer of IgG were significantly higher than the titer of IgA or IgM(p<0.05). The mean percentage of the positive IBT(20 per cent binding or more) of the pregnant group was significantly lower than non-pregnant group in the preoprative and postoperative IgG(p<0.05). Immunobead binding restricted to the head and tail of a sperm in IgG was predominant and significantly lower in the pregnant group (p<0.05). In conclusion, IgG especially immunobead binding to the head and tail can be used as a sensitive screening assay for antisperm antibodies after vasovasostomy.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1989

The effect of antisperm antibodies (ASA) on the human in vitro fertilization (lVF) process was evaluated by analyzing the IVF data between October and December 1988 at Seoul National University Hospital prospectively. The immunobead test (IBT) was used to identify Ig G, Ig A, and Ig M in the serum, semen, and follicular fluid from 93 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (lVF-ET ) . The fertilization rate in couples with ASA to sperm head of at least one isotype in female serum (n= 10) was significantly less than that in couples without ASA to sperm head (n=83; 28.5% versus 45.3% , p=0.028). The presence of ASA to sperm head in follicular fluid (n=8) also reduced fertilization rate from 45.3% to 24.4% (p=O.0l3). However, ASA binding to sperm head in male serum and semen did not predict fertilization. Similarly, ASA binding to sperm tail and tail-tip did not reduced the oocyte fertilization rate significantly in any of the fluids tested. The zygote cleavage rate was not reduced in the presence of ASA. These results suggest that the presence of ASA to sperm head in female serum and follicular fluid is associated with reduced fertilization in IVF-ET. Another observation is that the oocyte that do fertilize in the presence of antisperm antibodies can subsequently proceed with normal cleavage. The results of this investigation therefore suggest that the IBT is a useful test forscreening of women participat.ing IVF-ET program.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1998

To investigate the influences on semen parameters and fertilizing capacity of immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes and regional distribution of antisperm antibody (ASA) on the human sperm surface. Sixty-seven ASA-positive patients were compared with 96 ASA-negative donors. ASAs in semen showed significant negative effects on both semen parameters and fertilizing capacity; in those with ASAs in the sperm head and/or tail, the reductions were significant. In the head as well as the tail, there was close correlation between fertilizing capacity and both IgG and IgA. Both semen parameters and fertilizing capacity are significantly affected by the presence of ASA in semen. In particular, antibodies IgG to sperm head and/or tail, and antibodies IgA to sperm tail appeared to have a highly detrimental effect on fertilizing capacity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 1992

Previous studies have indicated that immunological factor is responsible for the infertility. We have detected sperm antibodies in ZIFT patients which grouped as fertilization failure (A; n=18) and low fertilization rate (${\leq}50%$)(B; n=20). Patients, however, had normal oocytes and sperms. We collected serum from wives and semen from husbands and donors (fertile sperm), if it was needed. We examined class, binding patterns and amounts of antisperm antibodies(ASA) by direct and indirect immunobead binding assay. In group A, 11 husbands were ASA positive showing 62.2% and 61.1% binding with IgA and IgG, respectively, and two wives were ASA positive showing 70.0% and 71.0% binding with IgA and IgG, respectively. Binding sites were mainly at the head of sperms (84%). In group B, 8 husbands were ASA positive showing 37.5% and 40.0% binding with IgA and IgG, respectively, and two wives were ASA positive showing 41.3% and 42.0% binding with IgA and IgG, respectively. Binding sites were also mainly at the head of sperms (78%). For the treatment of ZIFT patients who had fertilization failure at the first trial, we used albumin fractionation method and dilution method with 30% fetal cord serum (FCS) to reduce the titer of ASA. We used partial zona dissection (P.Z.D.) method for wives who have antisperm antibodies in their serum. According to represented method, we could inhance the fertilization rate to 60.0% by albumin fractionation and 20.0% by P.Z.D., respectively. We concluded that the use of micromanipulation like P.Z.D. or the other sperm processing methods is required to increase a chance of fertilization. This result suggested that it should be a prerequisite to test antisperm antibodies prior to entering assisted reproductive technologies (ART) programs.