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Abstract
A fertilization antigen (FA-1) has been identified on human sperm cells that is involved in human fertilization. To better explain the participation of FA-1 in human infertility, the relationship of anti-FA-1 antibodies with the presence of general antisperm antibodies and with sperm function was examined in the sera of 30 men and women. None of the sera from fertile men and women (n = 10) reacted with FA-1. In contrast, 55% of the immunoinfertile sera (n = 20) that were positive for antisperm antibodies detected by OPTI-BEAD (immune-labeled microsphere) tested positive with FA-1 (p <. 05). In these sera, penetration of hamster oocytes was reduced and was inversely related to monospecific anti-FA-1 absorbance values determined by an ELISA and with heterospecific general antisperm antibody binding to sperm in the OPTI-BEAD test (p <. 05). Anti-FA-1 activity approached significance with antisperm antibody binding to the sperm head (p =. 052). It is concluded that immunoinfertile sera have antibodies reacting with the FA-1 sperm antigen and their presence is significantly related to results of other functional tests, such as the SPA and the OPTI-BEAD test. The association of anti-FA-1 antibodies with antibody binding site (sperm head) may be relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of immunoinfertility.