FITC
Excitation: 490nm, Emission: 525nm
PROBLEM:
To determine the ability of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against acrosomal antigens to detect physiology and pathology of human spermatozoa and to detect spermatids in ejaculates of infertile male with azoospermia.
METHOD OF STUDY:
Sperm antigens detected with prepared MoAbs were partially characterized by biochemical and immunocytochemical methods. The acrosomal status of spermatozoa was compared in men with normal and pathological spermiograms and in sperm before and after induced acrosome reaction (AR). Ejaculates from patients were tested for the presence of spermatids.
RESULTS:
MoAbs specifically bind to intra-acrosomal sperm antigens with quantitative difference between ejaculates with normal and pathological spermiograms. These antigens are released from the acrosome after induced AR. MoAbs labeled acrosomal proteins in round and elongated spermatids in the ejaculates of patients with azoospermia.
CONCLUSION:
MoAbs against intra-acrosomal sperm antigens are useful for human sperm diagnosis and prediction of spermatogenesis. The spermatids can be utilized in assisted reproduction.
OBJECTIVE:
Use of monoclonal antibodies against sperm proteins in human medicine.
DESIGN:
Experimental and clinical studies.
SETTING:
Dep. Biology and Biochemistry of Fertilization, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Prague, Laboratory IVF, Iscare IVF, Prague, Dep. of Immunobiology, Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Prague.
METHODS:
Monoclonal antibodies against human sperm intra-acrosomal and cell surface proteins were used for quantitative analysis of these proteins by the immunofluorescence test in samples of human sperm of good and poor qualities.
RESULTS:
The detection of intra-acrosomal proteins was decreased and, on the other hand, detection of surface proteins was the same or higher in pathological spermatozoa.
CONCLUSIONS:
Monoclonal antibodies can be used for diagnostics of sperm pathology (quantitative detection of proteins) and for evaluation of the physiological state of sperm cells (state of acrosome before or after acrosome reaction). Finally, monoclonal antibodies could be useful for selection of a suitable method of fertilization (IUI, standard IVF, ICSI) in the laboratories of assisted reproduction.
