PRESENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF AUTOANTIBODIES AGAINST SPERMATOZOA IN THE BLOOD OF MEN WITH OBSTRUCTED VAS DEFERENS

Abstract

Summary. Blood samples from fifty azoospermic men with proved obstruction in the vas deferens were tested for the presence of sperm agglutinins. Autoantibodies against spermatozoa were detected in thirteen of them. Another group of twenty-five cases of obstructive azoospermia in whom the obstruction was relieved successfully by vaso-epididymostomy was also investigated. In six instances sperm agglutinins persisted in the blood for years after the obstruction was relieved and three of these individuals demonstrated normal fertility. Two techniques for the detection of autoantibodies were used, namely (1) microscopic technique and (2) modified macroscopic technique of Kibrick, Belding & Merril (1952). The probable mechanism responsible for the production of sperm agglutinins is discussed. It is concluded that the presence of sperm agglutinins in the blood serum does not interfere with the fertility of the individual.