Antisperm antibodies and lymphocyte subsets in semen--not a simple relationship

TY - JOUR

T1 - Antisperm antibodies and lymphocyte subsets in semen--not a simple relationship

AU - Barratt, C L

AU - Harrison, P E

AU - Robinson, A

AU - Cooke, I D

PY - 1990/2

Y1 - 1990/2

N2 - The significance of white blood cells in the ejaculate remains a matter of controversy. Several authors have suggested that such cells are important in the modulation of an antisperm antibody response, i.e. a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic to helper/inducer T cells may prevent the development of antisperm antibodies. In order to examine this relationship further we have documented the white blood cell types, with emphasis on the T-lymphocyte populations, in the ejaculates of men from infertile couples with and without antisperm antibodies; the latter group was divided further into two groups--vasovasostomized men and idiopathic men. All seven of the men without antisperm antibodies had a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells to helper/inducer T cells in the ejaculate. However, only in some of the men with antibodies was there a predominance of T-helper/inducer cells. It is clear that the relationship between antisperm antibodies and seminal leucocytes is therefore not as straightforward as has been proposed.

AB - The significance of white blood cells in the ejaculate remains a matter of controversy. Several authors have suggested that such cells are important in the modulation of an antisperm antibody response, i.e. a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic to helper/inducer T cells may prevent the development of antisperm antibodies. In order to examine this relationship further we have documented the white blood cell types, with emphasis on the T-lymphocyte populations, in the ejaculates of men from infertile couples with and without antisperm antibodies; the latter group was divided further into two groups--vasovasostomized men and idiopathic men. All seven of the men without antisperm antibodies had a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells to helper/inducer T cells in the ejaculate. However, only in some of the men with antibodies was there a predominance of T-helper/inducer cells. It is clear that the relationship between antisperm antibodies and seminal leucocytes is therefore not as straightforward as has been proposed.

KW - Antibodies/analysis

KW - Humans

KW - Infertility, Male/immunology

KW - Leukocyte Count

KW - Male

KW - Spermatozoa/immunology

KW - T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/immunology

KW - T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology

KW - Vasovasostomy

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb00959.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2605.1990.tb00959.x

M3 - Article

C2 - 2138139

SN - 0105-6263

VL - 13

SP - 50

EP - 58

JO - International Journal of Andrology

JF - International Journal of Andrology

IS - 1

ER -