Anti-sperm antibodies HLA antigens and semen analysis [letter]

2 groups of men seeking advice for infertility problems those with an unusually high proportion of mononucleated cells in their semen and those who had had their vasectomies surgically reversed were assessed for antibodies to sperm and for an association between antisperm antibody production and particular HLA antigens. The former group was investigated to determine whether the presence of mononucleated cells in the semen was an indication of antisperm antibody production. The vasovasostomy cases were investigated because of a suggestion that antisperm antibodies might decrease fertility by lowering sperm viability in men who had their vasectomies reversed. HLA antigen frequencies among men with and without antisperm antibodies were compared in men tested for antisperm antibodies as part of a clinical investigation of infertility. Most of the men were normospermic and none had been vasectomised. Antisperm antibodies were assayed in sera and/or seminal plasma by macroscopic gelatin agglutination assay. No association was found between the presence of a high proportion of mononucleated cells in semen and antisperm antibody production. Antisperm antibodies were detected in 29% of vasovasostomized men a much higher frequency than that reported for vasectomized men. It appears that in some vasovasostomized men not only sperm but also antisperm antibodies pass into the ejaculate. HLA A28 was more common than expected among men who had produced antisperm antibodies without undergoing vasectomy. Limited study data did not support the hypothesis that antisperm antibodies might decrease fertility by lowering sperm viability in vasovasostomized men. Poor post-vasovasostomy sperm motility was however noted in both men whose wives became pregnant and men whose wives did not.