Usefulness of antisperm antibody testing

VAZQUEZ LEVIN, MÓNICA; MARIN BRIGGILER, CI; VEAUTE; CAROLINA; MOLINA RI; VERON, GUSTAVO L

Practical Guide to Sperm Analysis: Basic Andrology and Reproductive Medicine

Taylor & Francis Group

Año: 2017;

Fertilization is a fundamental process that involves a coordinated sequence of interactions between two highly differentiated cells, the spermatozoon and the oocyte, giving rise to a diploid zygote. During this complex process, spermatozoa complete spermatogenesis and undergo several structural and functional modifications during epididymal transit, and, at ejaculation, sperm cells receive secretions from other male genital tract glands. During transport through the female reproductive tract, spermatozoa undergo a complex series of changes, collectively known as sperm capacitation, which are required to develop full fertilizing competence. On the other hand the oocyte, that successfully completed morphogenesis in the ovary, is released in the oviduct at ovulation and meets spermatozoa at the fertilization site, in the ampulla. Spermatozoa interact with cumulus cells and the Zona Pellucida, they undergo Acrosomal Exocytosis, bind and fuse to the egg plasma membrane (oolemma). After syngamy, early embryonic development starts and, few days later, the blastocyst is implanted in the uterus; embryogenesis and fetal development proceeds until birth. The success of this enterprise may be challenged by numerous factors, among them by antibodies that recognize sperm entities, called Anti Sperm Antibodies (ASA). This chapter has been organized in a group of section: Section A presents basic concepts on ASA etiology in men and women and ASA impact upon fertility. Section B describes several analytical techniques to evaluate ASA presence and incidence for both women and men and presents data on ASA incidence retrieved from published reports. Section C summarizes recent findings from our group on the assessment of sperm surface ASA in a large group of patients attending an Andrology Laboratory; findings on ASA incidence and their relationship with routine semen parameters and sperm kinematics are presented. Section D describes a set of practical guidelines to perform ASA evaluation, as well as information on commercially available kits. Finally, Section E presents Conclusions of this chapter.